Photo. Marques Valentim
The União das Freguesias de Faro is keen to join in the festivities marking the fiftieth anniversary of April 25, 1974, a fundamental milestone for the implementation of democracy in Portugal and for the autonomy of local government, which was, and continues to be, crucial for the country's development. To this end, it has a series of planned initiatives, including tributes to former mayors, a tournament and the unveiling of a bronze bust of Salgueiro Maia.
The first begins today, the 23rd, at 6 pm at the Maria Campina Regional Conservatory where a ceremony will be held to honor, with a simple commemorative remembrance of the occasion, all the mayors of the extinct parishes of Sé and São Pedro and the current Union of Parishes of Faro, who since 1976 have worked both in the Parish Council and in the Assembly for the benefit of our community, without forgetting the administrative committees of these Parish Councils that worked between 1974 and 1976.
For Bruno Lage, president of the Union of Parishes of Faro, "April 25, 1974, was a moment that not only changed the course of Portugal, but also defined the path toward a more just, free, and democratic society. It not only marked the end of an authoritarian regime in Portugal, but also represented the beginning of a new era of openness and connection with the world. After decades of political and cultural isolation under the Estado Novo regime, the Carnation Revolution opened Portugal's doors to the outside world, bringing with it a wave of profound and positive transformations."
"In political terms, April 25th allowed Portugal to reinvent itself as a modern, pluralistic democracy, based on the fundamental principles of freedom, equality, and justice, and with Democratic Local Government, one of April's great achievements, which proved to be a crucial tool for supporting the population and for Portugal's development."
In the early hours of the 24th to the 25th, precisely at 00:21, the moment in which fifty years ago the “definitive” password “Grândola Vila Morena” was broadcast, making the events irreversible, a bronze bust of this important captain of April, created by the sculptor Pedro Félix, will be unveiled in Salgueiro Maia square, in Faro.
For Bruno Lage, "it is only fair to honor Salgueiro Maia and perpetuate his memory with this bust, as he became a central figure in the Carnation Revolution through his courage, leadership, determination, and competence. He commanded the military column that left Santarém and marched on Lisbon, occupying Terreiro do Paço on April 25, 1974. Hours later, he commanded the siege of the Carmo Barracks, which ended with the surrender of the President of the Council, Marcelo Caetano, and the regime. However, because a military operation of this magnitude cannot be carried out alone, this bust also honors all those who participated directly or indirectly in this revolution and restored freedom and democracy to Portugal."
Finally, on the afternoon of the 25th, the Union of Parishes will promote, at the Penha Sports Pavilion, its already customary minibasketball tournament “April 25th”, which will be attended by more than two hundred athletes.
