Emmanuel Macron. “Today’s Europe owes a lot to the courage” of the Captains of April

In the message, which fills almost two pages, Macron recalls the role of France, in the 50s and 60s of the 20th century, in welcome “hundreds of thousands of Portuguese people exiled by poverty, by the systematic violation of their rights, by arbitrary and cruel political repression”.

The French president remembers the “three Marias”, Maria Isabel Barreno, Maria Teresa Horta and Maria Velho da Costa, “who in a certain way announced the 25th of April”, highlighting the example they were in the “fight for the rights of Portuguese women under the dictatorship”.

Mário Soares, Álvaro Cunhal and Emídio Guerreiro, who “had taken refuge” in France, are remembered here by Macron. For the French head of state “since then, the centuries-old ties between Portugal and France have returned to being close, strong and confident”.

In addition to these words, the message reminds us that half a century ago “Grândola, Vila Morena” vibrated on the Portuguese radio, the sign of the insurrection”, a freedom anthem “recorded in France, in 1971, at the Château d’Hérouville”, with France having “the honor of having given asylum” to Zeca Afonso .

Finally, thanks to Portugal and Emmanuel Macron’s certainty that the two countries share the same vision of democracy, freedom and justice.

“We owe it to the memory of the Captains of April and to the Portuguese people who, fifty years ago, stood up against injustice and poverty and won the admiration of France, Europe and the world with a red carnation in their hand. April 25th, always! Long live Portugal! Thank you to Portugal!”