President António José Seguro used his 25th April Revolution Day address over the weekend to urge young people to become active defenders of democracy, warning that freedom can be lost easily if citizens become complacent.
Speaking during the well-attended ceremony marking the 52nd anniversary of the 25th April Revolution at Portugal’s Parliament, the head of state said democracy is currently being tested both domestically, and internationally.
“Today, when we see democracy under strain within and beyond our borders, we cannot hesitate: either we defend it with courage, or we risk losing it in silence,” he declared.
In the closing section of his speech, the President addressed young people directly, calling on them to “be protagonists, not spectators” of democratic life and urging them not to “resign themselves, remain silent or give up”.
He encouraged them to defend democracy through everyday actions: rejecting disinformation, confronting hate speech, participating in democratic life by voting and debating, refusing to accept corruption as inevitable, and striving for equal opportunities.
Seguro reminded younger generations that the freedoms they enjoy today were won through courage, sacrifice and, in many cases, lives cut short. “Do not treat freedom as guaranteed,” he warned, noting that both history and current global events demonstrate how fragile democratic systems can be.
“Every generation faces its own test. This is yours: to ensure that freedom does not weaken, retreat or disappear,” he said, adding that safeguarding liberty means exercising it with courage and passing it on stronger to future generations.
The President acknowledged that younger citizens may not feel an emotional connection to the historic date itself. “No one loves by decree or by proxy something they did not live through,” he said, before highlighting the tangible rights secured by the 1974 revolution.
He cited examples ranging from the end of compulsory colonial war service to women’s autonomy in travel and professional careers, free access to emergency healthcare, the right to petition authorities, freedom to criticise those in power and the ability to vote, or choose not to vote, without fear of reprisals.
“April lives in everyday gestures; it is part of your life because you have freedom,” he said. “But my generation learned one thing: freedom rarely disappears all at once, it fades gradually.”
According to Seguro, threats to democracy rarely arrive dramatically but instead emerge through seemingly reasonable arguments or, increasingly, through algorithms shaping public discourse.
Addressing widespread distrust of politics among younger people, he admitted democracy has flaws and can disappoint, but insisted it remains “the only place where our voice truly counts”.
“It is not by distancing ourselves from politics that we change it, it is by participating and having the courage to transform it from within,” he argued.
He said the legacy of the Revolution did not require “solemn guardians” but rather vigilant, free-thinking citizens capable of critical reflection. Young people, he added, must remain alert to threats against fundamental rights and reject intolerance and personal attacks.
“When you hear freedom invoked to restrict freedom, defend it. When insult replaces dialogue, continue to dialogue. When you feel your voice does not matter, do not fall silent, speak louder,” he appealed.
Beyond his appeal to young citizens, Seguro also defended greater transparency in political donations, closer scrutiny of emerging technologies, faster justice proceedings, stronger anti-corruption efforts, and action against gender pay inequality.
Framing his speech around the central importance of freedom across society, the President argued that liberty also depends on responsibility, institutional integrity, and transparency in public office.
“Transparency in political donations is essential to guarantee a healthy and fair democracy,” he said, stressing that public disclosure is not merely administrative but an ethical commitment to citizens. “Where there is opacity, suspicion grows; where there is clarity, legitimacy is strengthened.”
In his roughly 18-minute address, Seguro twice referred to algorithms and artificial intelligence, warning against opaque decision-making systems affecting people’s lives.
“We live in an age in which algorithms and artificial intelligence increasingly influence our choices. Freedom in this context requires transparency, accountability, and democratic scrutiny,” he said.
Wearing the traditional red carnation on his lapel, the President described democracy, social justice and equality as Portugal’s shared foundation, calling the events of 25th April 1974 a historical milestone of “unquestionable value” enjoying overwhelming cross-generational support, “as natural as the air we breathe”.
He also paid tribute to the “Captains of April”, offering what he called an emotional salute and enduring gratitude to those who led the revolution.
Source: LUSA
