"There will be no better way to pay tribute to April 25th and all those who fought for freedom than to do everything to continue their founding dream: to develop our country, improve the quality of life of our people, strengthen democracy and freedoms and defend, as far as we can, peace", declared the president of AML, Rosário Farmhouse (PS).

The solemn session of the AML to commemorate the 50th anniversary of April 25th, 1974 -- the Carnation Revolution, which put an end to 48 years of dictatorship in Portugal, was attended by the municipal deputies, namely from PS, PSD, CDS-PP, PCP, BE, IL, Chega, PEV, Livre, PAN, PPM, MPT, Aliança and Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), and by the mayor of Lisbon (CML), Carlos Moedas (PSD).

At the ceremony, which began with a musical interlude by the band of the Lisbon Firefighters Regiment and the presentation of amateur films shot during the revolutionary period, were also present the Secretary of State for Local Administration and Territorial Planning, Hernâni Dias (PSD), the ambassador of the Holy See in Portugal, Ivo Scapolo, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, the provider of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, Ana Jorge, and civil, religious and military authorities.

"April 25th opened a window of opportunity for all Portuguese people, but in particular for women", said the president of AML, stating that democracy is going through "one of the most challenging periods in history", including due to the impact of the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.

Considering that the development levels that the founders of the democratic regime aspired to have still not been reached, because "the social elevator is still a long way from guaranteeing equal opportunities", Rosário Farmhouse mentioned that this vulnerability motivates "a nostalgia for strong and authoritarian leaderships, with muscular speeches of order and security", which is why it is necessary to "reaffirm April once again".

The mayor of CML stressed that "freedom is a good that must be permanently protected, cultivated and nourished", that it lives off diversity and that "it has no owners, because if freedom had owners, it would be a dictatorship".

"50 years after April, the threat to freedom is once again in extremism", whether from left-wing or right-wing political forces, warned Carlos Moedas, believing that the future involves "talking less and doing more", with "a policy made for the people, with the people and listening to the people", "with parties at the service of the people and the country, and not the people and the country at the service of the parties".

"There have always been several attempts to radicalise April, but the Portuguese have always opted to want a moderate April! This is shown by the greatest symbol of April, the carnations are the greatest symbol of peace and non-violence. Non-violence prevailed over the struggle and radicalism that many wanted at certain moments throughout history, and this is what we are celebrating today", concluded the PSD mayor.

In the deputies' speeches, the PS expressed confidence in democracy, despite the current moments of crisis and uncertainty, in which the challenge involves "a European, tolerant, prosperous Portugal, in which the social elevator works".

The PSD highlighted that Portugal has gained freedom and respect for human dignity over the last 50 years, defending that April must continue to represent plurality, even if this can "entail dangers", including with the emergence of new parties, in which "the people are the ones who give the most orders", and "not allowing hatred to gain ground".

The CDS-PP defended the commemoration of November 25th, 1975 as well, which served to "defend and consolidate April 25th, 1974 as the founding date of freedom and democracy" and proposed the attribution of a place name in the city in homage to Diogo Freitas do Amaral, to recognise the role that he played in democracy.

"April 25th forever, fascism never again", stated the PCP, indicating that democracy must be defended every day, with the safeguarding of fundamental rights, namely access to education, healthcare and housing.

The BE praised the women who fought for freedom, while the IL pointed out the importance of November 25th, 1975 and reinforced the idea that "April 25th is neither left-wing nor right-wing, it belongs to everyone and is for everyone".

Despite recognising the democratic advances, Chega criticised the option for "decolonisation without rules or conditions, advocated by the Portuguese Communist Party at the behest of Soviet imperialism", and said that today citizens "are not worried about what happened in 1974, they are worried about living with dignity, in safety and without corruption".

Chega concluded the speech with the party's motto, adapted from the dictator Oliveira Salazar, "God, homeland, family, work", having been booed by the other deputies.

Leia Também: Arte de Bordalo II na campa de Salazar? "Há outras maneiras de celebrar" (Portuguese version)