Portugal's mourning for pope turns into political battle

Apr 26, 2025

By AFP, Lisbon
Thousands of people took part in a rally on April 25 to mark Portugal's establishment of democracy, ignoring a government decision to postpone events to mourn the death of Pope Francis.

The center-right government wanted traditional events to mark the country's April 25, 1974, Carnation Revolution put back until May 1 to avoid three days of national mourning for the pope from April 24 to April 26.

But Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative, and other political leaders supported the thousands who defied the order.

"What has the pope got to do with the revolution? Everything," said Rebelo de Sousa at a special session of parliament when he highlighted Francis' campaigning for "freedom" and "equality".

"Today, the people are in the streets, while the government is watching from the window," commented Pedro Nuno Santos, leader of the Socialist Party, the main opposition.

Many of the thousands who marched along Lisbon's main Avenue of Liberty also slammed the government's move.

"I do not agree with this at all," said 77-year-old Fernanda Managao, who was carrying two carnations that were a symbol of the coup that overthrew 48 years of dictatorship in 1974.

"If the pope was still alive, he would have probably sent a message to the Portuguese people for this anniversary," added Managao, who marched with her husband.

João Batista carried a banner saying, "51 years ago, I would not have been able to vote." He was worried about the rise of extremist parties across Europe.

"It reminds us that we have to continue fighting for democracy," he said.

Vasco Lourenco, a retired colonel who heads an organization of military officers linked to the 1974 coup, called the government decision "an offence to the memory of the pope."

Portugal, which held its first democratic election exactly a year after the revolution, will hold legislative elections on May 18 after the government lost a confidence vote.--ucanews.com