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No dia 5 de outubro, Portugal celebrou 114 anos da Proclamação da República em Lisboa. O presidente Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa destacou a importância de melhorar os sistemas políticos. Houve o levantamento da bandeira e o hino nacional. O evento também lembrou o contexto histórico e a necessidade de proteger a democracia.
Translation
On the 5th of October, Portugal celebrated the 114th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic in Lisbon. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa emphasised the importance of improving political systems. The event included the hoisting of the flag and the national anthem. It also recalled the historical context and the need to safeguard democracy.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What did President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlight during the celebration?
He highlighted the importance of improving political systems.
Question 2: What activities were part of the celebration in Portugal?
The activities included the raising of the flag and the singing of the national anthem.
Exercise: Vocabulary
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▌05/10/2024
On 5th October, Portugal commemorated the 114th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic. The event took place in Lisbon's Praça do Município, where Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa delivered a poignant speech underscoring the need for continuous evolution and reform in political systems.
This year's celebration is noteworthy as it occurs under the current minority government led by Luís Montenegro of the PSD/CDS-PP coalition. It also comes amidst ongoing negotiations concerning the 2025 state budget, heightening the political significance of the occasion.
The ceremony began with the traditional hoisting of the Portuguese flag and the national anthem. Following this, President Rebelo de Sousa spoke after the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, in front of prominent figures such as the Prime Minister and the President of the Assembly of the Republic.
Portugal Celebrates 114 Years of Republic Formation (Illustration)
In his address, President Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the necessity for political systems to adapt and become more aligned with the general populace. He expressed concern that if these institutions fail to evolve, they risk leaving a void that could be filled by less democratic forces. His comments came at a time of shifting global power dynamics, which he argued required proactive and thoughtful reform.
The president called upon all levels of governance and society to defend and strengthen democracy, warning against complacency. "We know more now than in the past; we must use this wisdom to bolster our democratic institutions," he asserted, emphasising the critical role of personal and collective responsibility in sustaining liberty and freedom of expression.
The event also served as a reminder of the historical context of the 5th October holiday, reinstated in 2016 after a three-year suspension during a period of financial austerity. Since becoming President, Rebelo de Sousa has consistently advocated for transparency, civic humility, and the need for political convergence to address both immediate and long-term challenges.
Amidst these reflections, the ceremony provided an opportunity to contemplate past lessons and future ambitions, inviting citizens to participate actively in shaping the democratic process.
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