Manuel de Almeida / Lusa
The presidential minister announced on Wednesday that the government canceled the entire “festive agenda” and postponed the 25 April celebrations, claiming that the national mourning for Pope Francis implies reserve in the celebrations.
The Council of Ministers approved on Wednesday the decree declares Three days of national mourning for the death of Pope Francisto be fulfilled between this Thursday and Saturday.
The deliberation was announced by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaroat a press conference after the Council of Ministers held this Wednesday in Lisbon, and confirms what had already been reported by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on Tuesday.
Indeed, the government canceled “Festive Agenda” and postponed the 25 de April celebrations that had scheduled.
After the Council of Ministers, Leitão Amaro said that the legislation applicable to national mourning provides restrictions and limitationslike the placement of the flag at half rod and the “Reserves the celebrations”.
Leitão Amaro, without giving details about the type of reserve that public institutions such as municipalities must be subject, said the government has postponed the “festive moments” regarding the celebrations of the blackhead revolution for a “subsequent date” and that Executive members canceled all events of the festive nature agenda as inaugurations and celebrations.
“We have communicated to organizing entities, and we are communicating, I guarantee that everyone has done so far, … We will not participate in these events of celebration in this period, which is a period of embarrassment and sincere and deep tribute,” he said.
Solemn session remains the same
Still, Leitão Amaro stressed that the Government will be present at the April 25 Solemn Session in Parliament – justifying that “the Assembly of the Republic“ is an autonomous body ”.
This Tuesday, Aguiar-Branco considered that the Maintenance of the solemn session of the 25th of April in Parliament, even in the full mourning, Respects the legacy left by Pope Francis in Defense of democratic pluralism.
“In the solemn session of April 25 there will be a moment of tribute to Pope Francis, through a vote that I will present myself. Thus, at a time that is so solemn to Portugal and to the Portuguese people -April 25 -in such an important session for Portugal, this vote also means private gratitude and the particular appreciation that the Portuguese people had to this Pope”, Said the president of Parliament.
According to Aguiar-Branco, the fact that there is national mourning does not collide from a legal point of view with the holding of the solemn commemorative session of the Revolution of April 25, 1974.
“I believe until meets the meaning of Pope Francis’ legacy – A legacy characterized by always being available through dialogue, through respect for the difference, through the confrontation of ideas and not the confrontation of arms. In the house of democracy, the house of the word -greater space of respect for difference and respect for the ideas of others -we will pay tribute to the legacy of a Pontificate marked by the word”He advocated.
“It is a ceremonial of honor, and in this situation it is also a record of honor, because it is our national anthem. This is the quintessential session of Portuguese democracy, in which we also tax our democracy, our right to difference, the strength of the word to solve problems, the strength of what is the exchange of opinions in a society that, being plural, must try the consensus to reach the solutions. This is Pope Francis’ legacyfrom the point of view of what was his main weapon throughout his pontificate: the word, ”he insisted.
The 88 -year -old victim of a stroke after 12 years of pontificate.
