The Carnation Revolution and the Portuguese Transition to Democracy
The 2nd International Path of the FREI – From Resistance to European Integration project will take place in Lisbon on 23–24 April 2026, bringing together consortium partners and young participants from 7–9 European countries. The event is organised at a symbolic historical moment, immediately ahead of the 25 April commemorations, marking 50 years since Portugal’s first free legislative elections and the adoption of the democratic Constitution.
Portugal offers a unique case of a peaceful democratic transition combined with decolonisation, making it a powerful setting to reflect on how historical memory, post-colonial legacies and commemorative practices shape democratic awareness today. Through a combination of site-based learning, testimonies, participatory workshops and collective reflection, the event connects past struggles with present challenges and future democratic responsibilities across Europe.
Programme:
Thursday, 23 April
Morning | Museum of Aljube – Resistance and Freedom
09:45 – Registration
10:00 - 10:30 – Institutional welcome
Isabel Soares (Mário Soares and Maria Barroso Foundation) · Stefan August Lütgenau (FREI)
10:30 - 11:30 – Shadows of the Past: Memories of Political Prison under the Estado Novo dictatorship
Aurora Rodrigues
11:30 - 11:50 – Responsibility, Accountability and Ethical Decision Making (in Times of Pressure)
Susanne Sellnar
11:50 - 12:30 – Guided visit to the Museum of Aljube
Light lunch
Afternoon | Mário Soares and Maria Barroso Foundation
14:30 - 16:30 – Commemorating Democracy
Luís Loureiro de Amorim (European Commission Representation in Portugal)
Foster Europe (Austria) · CIME (Italy) · Ekfrasi (Greece) · LSFTB (Romania)
Maria Inácia Rezola (Executive Commissioner for the Commemorations of the 50th anniversary of 25 April)
16:30 - 18:00 – Unarchiving Democracy Workshop
Participatory workshop sessions using archival materials
18:00 - 18:30 – Coffee break & Visit to the exhibition
Mário Soares. Portugal, what Revolution? [“Mário Soares. Portugal: Que revolução?”]
19:00 - 19:30 – Symbolic commemorative action at Largo do Carmo
Placing of carnations
Friday, 24 April
Morning | Belém – Monument of the Discoveries
10:00 - 11:30 – Colonial Legacies in Contemporary Portugal: Contested Memories, Racism, and the Public Space
António Brito Guterres · Evalina Gomes Dias · Inocência Mata · Sónia Pereira · Paula Cardoso (Moderator)
11:30 - 12:00 – Visit to the Monument of the Discoveries
Partners of the event:
Museum of Aljube – Resistance and Freedom
Lisbon Municipal Company for Cultural Equipment Management and Animation / Lisbon Culture
Mission Structure for the Celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the 25 April 1974 Revolution
Photo credit: https://www.museudoaljube.pt/
More detailed information on the event and its outcomes will be included in the FREI Guide Book, where readers will also find links to related materials and the project’s online exhibition. The FREI project is funded by the CERV- Citizens Equality Rights and Values programme of the European Union.