"It is the democrats who make democracy," recalls José Manuel Bolieiro in session dedicated to April 25 revolution

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, spoke on Monday at a gathering marking the 50th anniversary of the April 25 revolution, paying tribute to "all those who built Portugal's democratic revolution from within the regime."

"It is not democracy that makes democrats, it is the democrats that make democracy," he said.

José Manuel Bolieiro spoke at the Museum of the Regional Legislative Assembly, in Horta, at a gathering that brought together the former President of the Government and PSD/Açores leader Mota Amaral and the former leader of PS/Açores Martins Goulart.

"The opportunity to listen to testimonials like these does not come along very often," said the President of the Government, who defended that the memory of the Carnation Revolution deserves the "support" of the Azoreans through "events that will travel to all islands."

"As politicians of the present, who do not live only for the 24 hours of the celebration, we owe our gratitude to the personalities who led political autonomy. We acknowledge and are grateful for your work and intelligence.
This is the inspiration that celebrating these events should instil in our daily attitude," he emphasised.

The Regional Government of the Azores and the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA) are marking the 50th anniversary of the April 25, 1974 revolution through a series of initiatives and activities about Freedom Day aimed at all age groups, especially young people.

The commemorations, which will take place across various islands over a year, will include gatherings dedicated to the values of April and the Regional Autonomy enshrined in the 1976 Constitution, through personal testimonials from those who lived through the dictatorship, in addition to visits to the various ALRAA buildings, including the Museum of the Azorean Parliament.