President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa addressed the inauguration of the exhibition ‘Mário Soares: Um Homem Inteiro’, by photographer Luís Vasconcelos, in honor of the centenary of the former Portuguese head of state. He emphasized that the historic socialist figure stands unchanged, immune to varying interpretations or narratives, as “there are things that are undeniable.”
“One does not have to be right-wing, left-wing, centrist, center-right, or center-left. One must be true and honor those deserving, associated with freedom and democracy in Portugal. It’s a fact,” he stated.
The President declared that Mário Soares, on a civil level, emerged as the great victor of November 25, in spite of reinterpretations of that military operation, which are made by those who did not experience it. “They interpret according to political circumstances,” Sousa stated, adding that, on that day, it was evident that Soares played a leading role in constructing a coalition to hasten the election of a Constituent Assembly and establish conditions for drafting a new Constitution.
The head of state expressed that revolutions are multifaceted, each revolutionary, military, and political leader envisions their revolution, with some winning and others losing.
Marcelo underlined the significant debt Portugal owes Mário Soares in terms of democracy, highlighting that the democratic system “has the great advantage of admitting everyone, even those who disagree with democracy.” While some may enjoy it more than others, Soares “remains alive” because the country lives in freedom.
In conclusion, the President urged the continuation of defending Mário Soares’ legacy in schools and universities, asserting that it is part of a professor’s duties.
“I feel very grateful, as the President of the Portuguese Republic, to be a successor to Mário Soares, but above all, for having learned a great deal from him, although not of his political orientation. I’m indebted to him for the existence of democracy in Portugal today,” he concluded.
