Green or red carnations, black or red dresses. It’s April 25th

The former President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, attends the solemn session to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the 25th of April

“April is not about green carnations or red carnations, April is about the flag of Portugal”, but in the solemn session celebrating the 52nd anniversary of the 25th of April, even the symbolic choice of the color of the flowers became a source of controversy.

The celebrations of the Carnation Revolution were marked this year by the alternative hues of the iconic flower that those present chose to bring — which the Livre deputy, Rui Tavarescalled ““.

The President of the Republic, Antonio José Seguroarrived at parliament at the time stipulated in the protocol, at 09:45, and got out of the car already with a carnation on my chestaccompanied by his wife, Margarida Maldonado Freitaswho presented himself as red dress.

In contrast, the Prime Minister, Luis Montenegrowho arrived moments before, chose don’t bring the flower with you which was linked to the 1974 revolution. He was accompanied by his wife, Carla Montenegro, dressed in blacka color that competed with red for primacy in the choices of the ladies present in the hemicycle.

Some members of the executive led by Montenegro entered the Sessions Room with carnations in the hand or on the lapelas was the case with Finance Ministers, Joaquim Miranda Sarmentoand the Internal Administration, Luis Nevesas well as the Secretary of State for Fisheries and the Sea, Salvador Malheiro.

In the galleries, where some captains of the revolution already sat, such as Colonel Vasco Lourençopresident of the Associação 25 de Abril, the general secretaries of the two trade unions also attended the session: Tiago Oliveirafrom CGTP-IN e Mário Mourãois the UGT.

Chega’s bench opted for green carnations. The party leader, Andre Venturasitting in the center of the hemicycle in his seat as deputy, did not carry any flowers.

The former President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Souza was also present and greeted those who arrived before taking their place in the plenary. As was customary as head of state, he arrived at parliament without a carnation but when he sat down in the reserved gallery he had one in his hand.

Also the president of the Assembly of the Republic placed a carnation in his lapel closer to the beginning of the ceremony.

In the President of the Assembly’s visiting room, Marcelo was often the first to greet those who arrivedbefore the parliamentary leaders, something that happened when the prime minister and his wife, Carla Montenegroentered the room.

In the same place, moments later, Antonio José Seguro joined him, who took the opportunity to spend a few minutes talking to the chief executive.

Unlike the session that marked 50 years since the approval of the Constitution of the Republic, this time Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was not alone in the gallery reserved for former heads of state and senior entities in the plenary.

Next to him sat the prime minister’s wife.Carla Montenegro, who also exchanged a few words with the wife of the head of state, Margarida Maldonado Freitas.

In the same gallery there was also Manuela Eanes, wife of the former president of the Republic, general Ramalho Eanes, who did not participate in the ceremonieslike this Assuncao Estevesformer president of parliament, red carnation on the lapel. Among former presidents, also Aníbal Cavaco Silva was absent to the solemn session.

This was the solemn session of this year’s celebrations of the Carnation Revolution, where even the color of the flowers was a source of discord. On the left, it was considered an affront to the legacy of April 25th; on the right, Hugo Soares said that “April is not about green carnations or red carnations, April belongs to the flag of Portugal”.

Just like using , the choices of flowers, their colors, and even clothing, are almost always loaded with symbolism — but exercise this freedom of choice It’s also April 25th.