Portugal commemorates the Carnation Revolution – in pictures

Thousands in Lisbon celebrated the 50th anniversary on Thursday of Portugal’s Carnation Revolution, which toppled the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and ushered in democracy. The almost bloodless revolution was conducted by a group of junior army officers who wanted democracy and to put an end to long-running wars against independence movements in African colonies

Main image: People surround a military vehicle as it parades during the military ceremony marking the Carnation Revolution’s 50th anniversary in Lisbon. Photograph: Antonio Pedro Santos/EPA

  • Archive photographs of the Carnation Revolution by Portuguese photojournalist Alfredo Cunha projected at Rua Augusta arch in Comercio square in Lisbon on Wednesday night, the eve of the anniversary
    Archive photographs of the Carnation revolution by Portuguese photojournalist Alfredo Cunha projected at Rua Augusta arch in Comercio square in Lisbon on Wednesday night, the eve of the anniversary

  • A woman dances in Carmo square, Lisbon as Portugal prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Carnation Revolution
    A woman dances in Carmo square, Lisbon as Portugal prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Carnation Revolution

  • Thousands of people sing the folk song Grandola, Vila Morena, in the first minutes of Thursday 25 April as the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. The song by Zeca Afonso was broadcast on national radio as a signal to the troops that the coup was starting and became an icon of the revolution that restored democracy in Portugal after 48 years of a fascist dictatorship
    Thousands of people sing the folk song Grandola, Vila Morena, in the first minutes of Thursday 25 April as the country celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution.

  • A couple hold red carnations while embracing each other after thousands sang the folk song Grandola, Vila Morena
    A couple hold red carnations while embracing each other after thousands sang the folk song Grandola, Vila Morena

  • Ninety-year-old Celeste Caeiro, who handed red carnations to the military taking part in the Portuguese revolution on 25 April 1974. She is greeting a former soldier during a military parade to celebrate the anniversary on Thursday
    Ninety-year-old Celeste Caeiro, who handed red carnations to the military taking part in the Portuguese revolution on 25 April 1974, greets a former soldier during a military parade to celebrate the anniversary on Thursday

  • A woman holds a red carnation during a military parade in Lisbon
    A woman holds a red carnation during a military parade in Lisbon

  • Military vehicles carry former soldiers who took part in the revolution during a military parade
    Military vehicles carry former soldiers who took part in the revolution during a military parade

  • Retired members of the military stand inside an original military vehicle during the commemorations
    Retired members of the military stand inside an original military vehicle during the commemorations

  • Portuguese deputies attend a 50th anniversary commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament
    Portuguese deputies attend a solemn 50th anniversary commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament, some waving red carnations

  • People surround a military vehicle as it parades during the ceremony
    People surround a military vehicle as it parades during the ceremony

  • People climb old military vehicles in Lisbon
    People climb old military vehicles in Lisbon

  • A Portuguese deputy holds a carnation during the commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament
    A Portuguese deputy holds a carnation during the commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament

  • The public is allowed access to the military vehicles that were used to overthrow the regime
    The public is allowed access to antique military vehicles that were used to overthrow the regime

  • The Portuguese leader of the Left Block, Mariana Mortagua, delivers a speech during the commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament
    Portuguese leader of the Left Block Mariana Mortagua delivers a speech during the commemorative session at the Portuguese parliament

  • Retired members of the military parade in Lisbon
    Retired members of the military parade through Lisbon in a tank

  • A child holding a red carnation sits on a military vehicle that took part in the 1974 revolution, on display in Lisbon’s Comercio square
    A child holding a red carnation sits on a military vehicle that took part in the 1974 revolution, on display in Lisbon’s Comercio square

  • People surround a military vehicle as it parades during the military ceremony
    People surround a military vehicle as it parades during the military ceremony

  • Carnations are left in the Portuguese parliament
    Carnations are left in the Portuguese parliament
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