In the solemn session of the 50th anniversary of April 25th, the PSD chose a 27-year-old deputy, who was a student leader, to give a speech, unlike most parties, which opted for their leaders.

In her speech, Ana Gabriela Cabilhas, with a carnation on her white dress, defended that it is unacceptable that "the best version" of democracy has remained in the past, "crystallized in the Carnation Revolution".

In the 50 years of democracy, she considered, "an improved democracy, reconciled with the people, that is not content with surviving, but that seeks to flourish with the intensity of April 74, November 75 or the ballot for the Constituent Assembly" is necessary.

"The voice of the people is the greatest force of democracy. Therefore, the House of Democracy must listen to the people, to return to the people the realization of their legitimate expectations", she said.

For the young deputy, the solution lies in parliament and in each of the deputies: "Refusing that extremists radicalize society, dividing it in two: politicians and the people. No!"

"Politicians are at the service of the people. Politicians are also the people (...) Because here there is no us and them, we are all Portugal", she said, in one of the several passages of her speech that also deserved applause from the PS bench, in addition to the PSD and CDS-PP.

The deputy defended that freedom must be associated with "true equality of opportunities".

"Equality of opportunities comes with the solution to the problems of people that we know exist, and for which this Government and this Assembly are dedicated to solving", she said.

For Ana Gabriela Cabilhas, this means raising the political debate, calling for "tolerance and dialogue for parliamentary activity" or reinforcing the accountability of public office holders.

"Understanding that here it is not the parties that win or lose, it is the Portuguese who have to win", she considered.

The PSD deputy defended that extremism and populism should be rejected, "any historical revisionism of Soviet longing", and also "wokeist waves", which she called "the new censorship of good".

"Replacing the politics of coffee and commentary on social networks with more participation in the community. Breaking with vested interests. Implementing the reforms that the country is crying out for. Saying no, not to those who want to divide the country", she appealed.

The deputy considered that "the future of democracy is not certain", but that the way it is prepared is "the key to defending it better".

"With more progress, solidarity, more respect for people and for the dignity that should be enshrined for all, for the planet and its resources", she said.

At the end of her speech, she left a word for the military and combatants to whom she said that the country has "a debt of gratitude" and to all Portuguese people, "from the youngest to the oldest", "from the interior and the coast".

Ana Gabriela Cabilhas was applauded, at the end, standing by the PS bench and, sitting, by the CDS-PP deputies and several from the PS.

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