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

Wednesday, April 24th

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. I would like to join our friends in Portugal, the Portuguese in France and all our compatriots of Portuguese origin in celebrating this anniversary, so important for democracy in Europe.

Synthesis of the history of the second half of the 20th century, April 25, 1974 marked the end of the oldest dictatorship in Western Europe, the launch of the last stage of decolonization on the African continent and the beginning of Portugal’s journey towards the European Union, until upon its accession in 1986.

The young Captains of April expressed the hope of an entire people in peace and democracy. They weren’t even thirty years old and they were already heroes. Today’s Europe owes much to his courage.

France is proud to have welcomed into its territory hundreds of thousands of Portuguese men and women in the 50s and 60s, exiled by poverty, the systematic violation of their rights, arbitrary and cruel political repression, and for refusing to participate in this system and in these unjust wars.

50 years ago, “Grândola, Vila Morena” sounded on the Portuguese radio, the signal of the insurrection, which continued to be sung, beyond 1974, beyond Portugal, as an anthem of freedom. Some still remember that this magnificent song by Zeca Afonso was recorded in France, in 1971, at Château d’Hérouville, and our country is honored to have given him asylum.

Today I think of all the women and men who defended the same cause.

I think of the “three Marias”, Maria Isabel Barreno, Maria Teresa Horta and Maria Velho da Costa, whose fight for the rights of Portuguese women under the dictatorship received immense support throughout the world, and in particular in France, and who in a certain way announced on April 25th.

I think of Mário Soares, Álvaro Cunhal and Emídio Guerreiro, who traveled to Lisbon and Porto in the days following the revolution, coming from France, where they had taken refuge.

Since then, the centuries-old ties between Portugal and France have once again become close, strong and confident.

Franco-Portuguese friendship was strengthened with the cross-flows of our two peoples, the strength of our cooperation, the respective learning of our languages, the dialogue between our artists, celebrated during the France-Portugal Season that we organized in 2022.

This friendship is also achieved by the millions of men and women whose families live between Portugal and France.

Together, we prepare the future of our European Union. Side by side, we are and will be present to defend the causes that will determine the future of the world.

Nice will take its cue from Lisbon by hosting the United Nations Ocean Conference in June 2025.

On environmental issues, as well as on major geopolitical and social upheavals, our two countries share the same vision of a free, democratic and fair world.

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! Thanks to Portugal!

[Veja aqui o vídeo da comunicação do Presidente de França, Emmanuel Macron]