Former Portuguese head of state Ramallo Eanes said this Friday that the case of 13 soldiers who refused to board the Mondego ship made him “disgusted” as a soldier and citizen, and he declined to comment further.
“Obviously, I have an opinion, and I must say that all this deeply upset me, as a soldier and citizen. But I am not going to replace the one who in the state is obliged to comment on this issue. and even explaining to the Portuguese what is happening,” General Ramallo Eanes said in Castelo Branco.
On the night of the 11th IRP (Portuguese Republican ship), Mondego did not complete the mission to escort the Russian ship north of Porto Santo, in Madeira, because 13 garrison soldiers (four sergeants and nine soldiers) refused to land for security reasons.
Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Gouveia e Melo, in a statement Thursday in the port of Funchal, criticized the soldiers on the Mondego who disobeyed orders, saying the matter was “very serious.” cannot forget, ignore, or forgive acts of indiscipline.”
The former President of the Republic spoke to reporters at the end of the tribute ceremony that the Council of Castelo Branco held in his honor as part of the celebration of the city’s 252nd anniversary, naming an avenue in the city after him.
“I said that when I turned down promotion to marshal, it was because I realized that this should not be an element of resentment in the Armed Forces. Defense and the President of the Republic must know how to decide [o problema] in a viable way,” he said.
Ramallo Eanes also stressed that he was touched by the tribute to Camara de Castelo Branco.
“I am very sensitive to this idea of a prospectus bearing my name. I feel as much from Alkain as I do from Albicaster for reasons that go back to my childhood and my adult life,” he said.
Asked about the state of the country 50 years after April 25, 1974, the former head of state said that Portugal “improved in a most interesting way.”
“The country has nothing to do with Portugal as it was before April 25th. European funds have allowed us to work miracles. One of the miracles is to have a welfare state equal to European welfare states,” he said.
However, Ramalho Eanes understands that subsequently “we did not do what was necessary: we defined a common life project that would make everyone feel united in working to achieve the goal.”
As part of the celebration of the 252nd anniversary of Castelo Branco’s city status, the former head of state was honored at a city council meeting.
This was followed by the opening of the Avenida General Antonio Ramalho Eanes in Castelo Branco.
Antonio Ramalho Eanes was born in Alcainz (a city in the municipality of Castelo Branco) and moved to Castelo Branco with his parents when he was not even three years old.
It was in the city of Albicatrense that he lived and studied until he went to Lisbon to enter the old army academy.
Antonio Ramalho Eanes was elected President of the Republic in June 1976 and December 1980.
Retired from active political life, Ramalho Eanes continues, as a member of civil society, to intervene in matters that he considers important, especially civil and cultural issues, namely through his participation in congresses and conferences on various topics (cultural, political, social and sociological , geopolitical and geostrategic), in specialized forums, in municipalities and universities, including in Portugal and abroad.
In 2000, he turned down a promotion to marshal.
At present, in essence (like all presidents who have already completed their mandate and are elected in accordance with the current Constitution), he is a lifelong state councilor.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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