Portugal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution with an expanded program

Today, Portugal marks the 50th anniversary on April 25 with an expanded program of commemoration, including the traditional ceremonial sitting of Parliament and a parade on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon, but with initiatives throughout the country.

The program of the Memorial Commission for the 50th anniversary on April 25 begins with a military ceremony in Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon in the presence of the President of the Republic.

Marcelo Rebelo de Souza then goes to the Assembly of the Republic, starting at 11:30, to watch and close the traditional ceremonial session dedicated to the Carnation Revolution.

To mark in Parliament the half-century since the coup that ended the dictatorship of Oliveira Salazar and Marcello Caetano, PS, Chega, Liberal Initiative, BE, PCP and Livre chose their leaders to speak.

The PSD, the party led by current Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who is present at the session but does not speak, has chosen a different option and will place the young deputy Ana Gabriela Cabillas, 27, on the podium.

In the case of the SDS-PP, a political force was appointed, led by Defense Minister Nuno Melo and the chairman of the parliamentary group, Paulo Nuncio.

As usual, the speeches will follow the ascending order of parliamentary representation: the first speech will be made by PAN deputy Ines de Sousa Real, followed by Paulo Nuncio (CDS), Rui Tavares (Livre), Paulo Raimundo (PCP, Mariana Mortagua). (Bloco de Esquerda), Rui Rocha (Liberal Initiative), Andre Ventura (Chega), Pedro Nuno Santos (PS) and Ana Gabriela Cabillas, ending with the President of Parliament José Pedro Aguiar-Branco and Marcelo Rebelo de Souza.

At the end of the ceremonial session, the President of the Republic goes to the Noble Hall of the Parliament to visit the exhibition entitled “A Nós a Liberdade”, organized jointly with the Arpad Senes-Vieira da Silva Foundation and officially opened on Tuesday. fair.

In the afternoon, Parliament opens its doors to the public for a free program including exhibitions, theater and music.

The Prime Minister will also mark the anniversary on April 25 with a lunch with 50 young people from different fields, from culture to sports or volunteering, at the official residence of S. Bento, which will be open to the public from 15:30. evening with a cultural program including a musical performance by António Sambujo.

The President of the Republic will open the Belem Palace to the public and from 18:00 will take part in a ceremony together with his colleagues from the Portuguese-speaking countries at the Belem Cultural Center in Lisbon, which, in addition to the revolution itself, will celebrate the independence of these countries. The Prime Minister will also attend the meeting.

In the afternoon, the usual parade will take place on Avenida da Liberdade, bringing together political leaders, and this year it will be marked by the symbolic presence of the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar Branco.

Terreiro do Paço will be the central location of the official celebrations, where from 9:40 a.m. the historical re-enactment of Operation End of the Regime will take place, which began the day before at the Cavalry Practical School in Santarem.

A replica of the column commanded by Captain Salgueiro Maia, which left Santarém for Lisbon 50 years ago, arrives in Terreiro do Paço just in time to be paraded in front of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and others.

Old army vehicles will remain in Terreiro do Paço until 12:00, providing citizens with the opportunity to interact with the military personnel present in April.