The heroically named Captains of the Carnation Revolution this year returned to Portugal's parliament building for the April 25th remembrance event.
For four years in a row the surviving military personnel who were instrumental in the peaceful uprising against Salazarism have boycotted the April 25th events in protest against the policies of the previous Passos Coelho coalition government and its rigid adherence to a raft of austerity policies.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa delivered his first speech as Portugal’s President, paying tribute to those whose efforts sparked the Carnation Revolution that in 1974 saw an end to nearly half a century of dictatorship and the beginning of democracy, Portuguese style.
The rather solemn event in parliament was followed by the traditional parade and an open day at the residence of the prime minister.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa appealed for consensus between political parties and said the country can not keep living in a climate of electoral campaigning, adding that just because there are two different political models in the country, this should not prevent consensus to ensure stability in areas such as health, social security, justice and the financial system.
Rebelo de Sousa was referring to the fragile and often tetchy political situation in Portugal, where since last November the Socialist Party has governed with the support of left wing parties, even though the right-of-centre Pedro Passos Coelho, got the most votes.
In the Algarve, residents of the Ria Formosa islands assembled on the beach to form a human SOS in protest at continuing State pressure to demolish their properties and see an end to their unique way of life.
One protestor observed that on a day such as April 25th, it was important to reflect that certain of Portugal's citizens still are denied rights and face the full force of unilateral State decisions to evict and destroy without the opportunity for consultation or redress.
"This is not democracy, it's business as usual. The only difference between the State's behaviour now and during the Salazar period is the fact protestors can use social media, without which the island homes already would all have been flattened."
The islanders await an audience with the Minister for the Environment who has promised an equitable solution to this long and stressful situation.
