Ties between Portugal and Brazil are highlighted in the solemn celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution

The Legislative Assembly of the State of Ceará (Alece) held, this Tuesday (23/04), in the May 13th Plenary, a solemn session in reference to the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, a popular movement that took place on April 25, 1974 in Portugal that ended the dictatorship led by Antônio Salazar.

Deputy Simão Pedro (PSD), who presided over the solemn session, highlighted the historical ties between Brazil and Portugal. “There has always been a very strong partnership between Portugal and Brazil, especially because there are thousands of families who are descendants of Portuguese here,” he said. In the parliamentarian’s assessment, this partnership has borne fruit and contributed to Brazilian economic growth.

During the solemn session, the president of the M. Dias Branco Group, Ivens Dias Branco, was honored with certificates; the president of Qair Brasil, Armando Abreu; the vice-consul of Portugal in Fortaleza, Rui Almeida; the representative of the Council of Portuguese Communities for Ceará and Piauí, José Augusto Pinto Wahnon; the president of the Brazil-Portugal Ceará Chamber (CBPCE), Raul dos Santos Neto; the president of Sociedade Beneficente Dois de Fevereiro, Francisco Neto da Silveira Brandão; the former councilor of the Portuguese Communities in the Piauí Ceará section, Arnaldo Jorge Veríssimo Vidal; and the former consul of Portugal in Ceará Carlos Pimentel de Matos (in memoriam).

Armando Abreu, president of Qair Brasil, recalls moments that marked the revolution that ended Salazar’s dictatorship in Portugal – Marcos Moura

Speaking on their behalf, the president of Qair Brasil, Armando Abreu, commented that he was 16 years old when the Carnation Revolution occurred. He drew attention to the fact that it was carried out almost peacefully, when conflicts were expected in the streets between rebellious military personnel and those defending the then government. However, instead of exchanging fire, carnations were bought by Portuguese ladies and distributed among the military.

“It must be a unique case in the world for a revolution, with the weight and meaning it had, to be turned around like that”, he said emotionally. Armando Abreu also highlighted the role of the honorees in strengthening relations between Brazil and Portugal.

Also speaking on behalf of those who received tributes, former governor Lúcio Alcântara commented that the Carnation Revolution “is a milestone in the history of democracy in the world”. He also defended the strengthening of relations between Portugal and Brazil, both economically, culturally and politically.

Also present at the formal session were the president of the Brazil-Portugal Ceará Chamber (CBPCE), Raul Santos Neto; the vice consul of Portugal in Fortaleza, Rui Almeida, and the regional superintendent of Labor and Employment in Ceará, Carlos Pimentel de Matos Júnior.

Editing: Clara Guimarães