In the bill that was delivered to the Assembly of the Republic, the deputies argue that “for the defense of freedom and democracy”, it is “as important to celebrate the 25th of April as it is to celebrate the 25th of November”.
“As such, and given that the first is a national holiday, it is essential for Chega that the 25th of November, the day of the conquest of freedom in the face of a communist dictatorship, and the consequent defeat of far-left forces, should also be”, they point out.
Chega points out that “it is to the 25th of November and its heroes, of unquestionable courage and honour”, that the country owes “freedom and democracy”, so it is a “duty to honour them, marking this date with respect and the praise he deserves.”
“For this reason, the Chega Parliamentary Group proposes that November 25th be a national holiday from 2025, the year of the 50th anniversary of this fundamental historical moment for Portuguese democracy”, the project reads.
Chega also accuses political forces of trying to “deny or devalue the importance of the 25th of November, perhaps because, on that same day, the unshakable courage of some prevented their totalitarian and perverse agendas from triumphing”.
The party had already presented a proposal with the same purpose in the last legislature, but the initiative ended up expiring without being voted on, with the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic.
The PSD/CDS-PP Government decided to create a commission to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 25th of November in 2025.
On November 25, 1975, around a thousand paratroopers from the Tancos School Base occupied the Monsanto Air Region Command and six air bases, an act that the Group of Nine - a group of military personnel from the moderate wing of the Armed Forces Movement - considered the indication that a coup d'état could be in preparation by the so-called military left.
The attempted uprising of those military units, associated with sectors of the extreme left, was stopped by a device based on the Amadora commando regiment, under the direction of the then Lieutenant Colonel Ramalho Eanes, future President of the Republic.
At the end of the afternoon, the then President of the Republic, Francisco da Costa Gomes, decreed a state of siege in the Lisbon region, and the situation was controlled by the military assigned to the Group of Nine in the MFA.
The events of November 25, 1975, had several versions over the decades and caused divisions over the responsibilities of each actor and who took the first step.
Chega should fight for democracy, freedom, and a better standard of living for the Portuguese people, in a way that the poor Portuguese people don't have to emigrate anymore to other countries, in search of a better life, and standard of living. The Portuguese people that emigrated they suffered a lot at the hands of scrupulous bosses, that exploited them, simply because they were foreigners. CHEGA make Portugal a better nation, so that people in the interior of Portugal close to the Spanish border, don't have to emigrate anymore, because of miserable life conditions.
By Tony from Other on 07 May 2024, 12:53
Again a very stupid proposition from CHEGA populists and far right … They have to stop to listen and follow Trump, Putin and other dangerous people. And close their books here in Portugal.. screen their elected members… mostly vagabonds and corrupt people.. so?
By Pierre from Algarve on 08 May 2024, 10:18
If we could have one day without inching closer to fascism, that would be great.
By Hank from Porto on 08 May 2024, 21:02
Sure, nothing wrong with memorializing November 25th as it saved Portugal from a totalitarian Communist regime that would have been infinitely more injurious to the people than anything the old New State regime could have accomplished.
By Tony from USA on 08 May 2024, 22:43