After the legislative elections in March, there are several new faces in the Assembly of the Republic, namely deputies up to 35 years old, who will participate for the first time in a solemn session of April 25, 1974.

Among the debutants is the PSD deputy Eva Brás Pinho, 24 years old, who defines herself as a "daughter of April" and considers that the ceremony in the hemicycle - which has been held since 1977 with the highest figures of the State, with speeches by the President of the Republic, President of the Assembly of the Republic and representatives of each elected party - is "not only fundamental, but also one of the most beautiful sessions".

Eva Brás Pinho said she was "very honored" to be able to participate in this solemn moment, but warned that few young people have this opportunity.

"The Assembly of the Republic should receive, as representatives of civil society, youth organizations, including young people, in a formal way, in the celebration of this day. On the other hand, there are multiple initiatives that can - and should - be promoted with a view to involving my generation in the construction of liberal democracy and in decision-making that will have a particular impact on our long-term future. Young people should be in these celebrations, not only as spectators, but as active agents, with a voice, in the democratic dialogue on the memory of April and what it represents", she defended.

Miguel Costa Matos, 29 years old, Secretary-General of the Socialist Youth, knows the steps of the solemn ceremony that marks the Carnation Revolution in parliament. The leader of the JS considers that the date "deserves a moment of solemn commemoration, in which the plurality of political opinions is heard", without giving up the current model of commemorations in parliament.

"However, ways should be added to make this day closer to young people - the Assembly should promote, in the Palace and in a decentralized way throughout the country, new formats - from theater to poetry, from information to education - that revive memory and empower political participation", he suggested.

Madalena Cordeiro, from Chega, is 20 years old and is the youngest deputy in the hemicycle. The parliamentarian considers that "50 years after April 25, it is difficult to understand" what is being celebrated.

The young woman warns of some of the difficulties of the new generations, such as low wages - "75% of young people in Portugal earn less than 950 euros" -, the fact that only "40% of young people own" a home and the abandonment of universities "due to lack of viable economic conditions".

"More than knowing what the future of the April 25 celebrations is, we need to know what the future of Portugal is", she argues.

For the Liberal Initiative, Patrícia Gilvaz, 26 years old, emphasizes that "a very institutional model like the one that exists today is very unappealing, especially for the youngest" and argues that it is time to think about the "best strategy to open the house of democracy to civil society, on these commemorative dates, but not only".

The deputy suggests holding "concerts, debates and gatherings, duly and widely publicized" or decentralizing the solemn ceremonies, similar to what happens on June 10, Portugal's day.

Emphasizing the importance of April 25 but also of November 25, 1975, the deputy praises the fact that the president of parliament, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, has announced that he will go down Avenida da Liberdade on this day.

The parliamentary leader of the BE, Fabian Figueiredo, 35 years old, considers that the current solemn session "is a very relevant moment in the democratic life of the country and of the parliament as an institution, because without democracy, without April 25, the Assembly of the Republic would not exist", adding that all the data indicate that it is "one of the most watched".

The bloc praised the set of activities that are already carried out between parliament and schools, academia and museums, considered that the Assembly of the Republic could be more often open to the public and was in favor of parliament "being the stage for cultural moments", such as concerts.

For Livre, deputy Paulo Muacho, 33 years old, will also be a debutant in this ceremony, which he defines as "an important moment, which should be maintained", adding that the popular demonstrations organized on that day are equally relevant and essential for maintaining a spirit "of sharing, intervention and participation that our democracy, 50 years later, needs more than ever".

On April 25, as in previous years, the São Bento Palace will be open for free visits from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm, with several activities, as well as the recently inaugurated Parliament House - Interpretive Center.

Leia Também: Cerimónia militar abre comemorações do 25 de Abril em Lisboa (Portuguese version)