The President of the Republic recalled this Saturday that April 25 is “for everyone,” emphasizing “political stability” and the functioning of democracy in Portugal even in “periods of very strong crises.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa presided this Saturday in Monte do Sobral, in Alcacovas, Viana do Alentejo, at a ceremony dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Captains’ Movement, as part of an initiative that marks a new stage in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of April 25 , which was attended by Prime Minister António Costa.
After the unveiling of the tiled panel and the performance of the Trabalhadores de Alcáçovas choir, which performed “Grândola, Vila Morena,” the head of state emphasized that “no one is discussing the historical significance of April 25 anymore.”
“April 25 belongs to everyone, even those who were against April 25 and survived it, and even those who today are against or think that they are against April 25,” he said in his speech, emphasizing that “April 25 is Abril built what was fundamental to building in Portugal,” namely democracy.
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza believed that April 25 “will never end” as it is a “constant challenge” because the world has changed.
In his speech, the president also said that the main thing in democracy and freedom is the presence of “space for everyone,” whereas in dictatorships there is none.
“In dictatorships there is room for only one or a few, in democracies there is a place for everyone, and freedom, when it is born, is meant for all,” he said, deeming it “legitimate for those who organized April 25 to look back on their dreams and find that one part is completed, the other remains to be done,” and also “the same feeling is experienced by those who have been living on April 25 for almost 50 years.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said that these feelings are “a sign of progress, the progressivism that April 25 brought with it” and “dissatisfaction with the desire for more and better depending on circumstances and problems that are becoming increasingly complex.”
The President of the Republic also emphasized that “there is no such thing as a perfect democracy,” even the most perfect ones “have presented some of the worst examples of democratic fragility over the past few years.”
“A democracy that is built every day, every week and every month. Democracy that requires the unity and independence of Portugal, territorial integrity, an accurate vision of our borders. All this wealth of democracy, what political stability. Look around and look at the political and party, economic and social systems, what they have changed and how much they have weakened over time, and compare them with Portugal,” he said.
According to the head of state, “there have been crises of various types,” but Portugal is “an example of dual political and institutional stability.”
“This is a democracy that has functioned as a democracy during periods of very strong crises,” such as economic, financial and social crises, as well as during pandemics and war, he said, highlighting the Armed Forces as another “fundamental pillar.” April 25, and this should meet the requirements of the new time.
On September 9, 1973, more than 100 young soldiers managed to meet secretly in Monte do Sobral, in Alcacovas. This was the first plenary session of a movement of dissatisfaction with the position of the military class, which turned into a violent revolutionary revolution that would change the country and end the 48-year dictatorship some seven months later.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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