It was on April 25, 1974, 50 years ago, in Lisbon, a Thursday, very cold for spring, and I was there. One of the greatest days of those who lived it and, perhaps, the most unexpected. The night before, I had casually passed by the door of Pide, the monstrous Portuguese political police, in Chiado. When I saw two or three of those guys at the door, stocky, thick mustache, sweater under their coat, I said to my wife: “They’ve been here for 48 years and they’re going to stay for another 48.” Well, I’ve never been so wrong. In the early hours of the morning, young Army officers, at the head of tanks and troops, left their barracks, occupied the radio stations, the airport and banks, neutralized the paramilitary forces and invaded the palaces, ministries and government secretariats. Contrary to the orders coming from the megaphones, the people took to the streets. Red carnations took over the lapels of coats and the mouths of cannons – hence the Carnation Revolution, as it would be called. The longest-running dictatorship in Europe was overthrown, established in 1926 and, for 40 of its 48 years, commanded by a cold and inscrutable man, a sad eunuch, of many convictions: António de Oliveira Salazar. Salazar had died in 1970, but his ghost continued to haunt the country. The 25th of April 1974, in capital letters, as he became famous, evaporated it. Read more (04/20/2024 – 10:00 am)
Source: Folha
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
