The UN Secretary-General emphasized the role of the people and the popular will in the consolidation of democracy, referring to the mobilization of the Portuguese during the Carnation Revolution, as well as in the period after 25 April.
At an event organized by the Portuguese Mission to the United Nations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, António Guterres said in an unrecorded speech in English: “We would not have strengthened democracy if people had not repeatedly and en masse taken to the streets from Portugal to say that he wants democracy in our country.”
In front of hundreds of people, including diplomats from several countries, Guterres recalled his personal experiences during Portugal’s time under dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar and shared memories not only of the day of the revolution, but also of the turbulent period that followed it.
The former prime minister said he knew what it was like to live in a country with a dictatorial regime, where a person could be arrested or tortured for having an opinion different from the government, where newspapers were subject to censorship and any form of association. was prohibited.
“But the regime collapsed not only because it was rotten, but also because the people joined the Armed Forces to create conditions for the revolution,” he emphasized.
“And this importance of the people was not limited to April 25, 1974 (…). It took two years to consolidate Portuguese democracy,” he added, recalling the post-revolutionary mobilizations and demonstrations.
In addition to the experiences of that period in Portugal, Guterres also linked the events of April 25 to African liberation movements that led to decolonization.
Under the theme “Portugal 3D: Democracy, Decolonization, Development”, the event discussed the theme “The Impact of the Carnation Revolution on the World” with the participation of the Ambassadors of Mozambique, Brazil, Spain and Timor-Leste.
Portugal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ana Paula Zacarias, defended the need to fight for democracy “every day”.
“Democracy can never be guaranteed. We must fight for it every day,” the diplomat said in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) chamber, specially decorated with hundreds of red carnations.
Speaking to Lusa during the event, Ana Paula Zacarias found the message conveyed by Guterres “very important”, as well as the sharing of personal experiences.
“The Secretary General reaffirmed the idea that democracy is the will of the people, at a time when the world is experiencing dramatic situations of authoritarianism and even regression in some aspects,” the diplomat noted.
“It is the people who are responsible for what politics should be, for political choice in a democracy. And that was a very clear message sent by the Secretary General: we can survive difficult times, we can survive difficult circumstances.” but people are knowledgeable and know how to find their way,” the ambassador added.
Among the hundreds of people gathered, in addition to Portuguese officials at the United Nations, were permanent representatives to the United Nations of countries such as Angola, Cape Verde, Ukraine and Morocco.
The celebration also featured two musical moments: a Portuguese guitar concert by Marta Pereira da Costa and an interpretation of “Grândola, Vila Morena” by the young Portuguese artist Julia Machado.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.