The Path to Independence: The Ongoing Struggle for True Portuguese Freedom

13 de nov de 2024

4 min read

Reflections on April 25th and the Unfinished Quest for Freedom

As we pass the fiftieth anniversary of the Revolution of April 25, 1974, I feel compelled to reflect on our path as a people, a country, and a culture that, to this day, continues to seek its own identity. For many of us—patriots, Luso-descendants, survivors of the turbulent past that marked the end of the Portuguese empire and the fall of an authoritarian regime—April 25th did not deliver the promised freedom. Instead, it left us bound by new chains, caught between imported ideologies and foreign interests that persist in dictating our future.

My Personal Journey: From Angola to the Search for True Independence

I am one of these survivors. I grew up in Angola, in a time when Portugal felt far away from Lisbon, and its presence was felt across the red soil of Africa. I lived through the promises of a “civilizing” empire that, despite its faults, still nurtured a unique bond between Portuguese and Africans. But in 1974, I saw that reality quickly turn into a nightmare. That year, the coup that many hailed as a liberation brought with it a new type of subjugation, a transition that many of us saw not as a step toward freedom, but as a leap into the unknown and chaos.

The Cycle of Dependence: From Salazar to Neoliberalism

In the decades that followed, I watched Portugal move from one oppressive regime to another, each with its own banner and promises of redemption. But the bitter truth is that, as a nation, we have yet to take the reins of our own destiny. We remain ensnared, whether by the allure of communism, dependency on the European Union, or the weight of a neoliberalism that sells us the illusion of progress while draining the country of its resources, its people, and its soul.

A Call for Authentic Independence

My personal experience—as a Luso-Angolan assimilated and an immigrant in the United States—taught me the value of genuine freedom. I learned that true independence is not achieved through empty speeches or imposed ideological alignments. Authentic independence begins within each of us, rooted in a deep love for our land, our culture, our history, and our people. This is the vision I wish to share with you, my compatriots, and with all Luso-descendants who, like me, continue to fight for the right to define what it means to be Portuguese.

Portugal at a Crossroads: Building a Path to Independence

Today, Portugal stands at a crossroads. After nearly five decades of transformations, what we need is not more ideological discourse or promises of prosperity from Brussels, Washington, or any other center of foreign power. What we need is a “Path to Independence,” a path that only we, the Portuguese, can walk. And walking this path requires the courage to break free from external interests, convenience pacts, and cultural restraints imposed upon us over centuries.

Restoring Portuguese Essence and Acting for the Future

To me, this Path to Independence begins with reclaiming our identity. We urgently need to rediscover our essence, that same essence that drove us to conquer seas and found cities in distant lands. That courage, that thirst for discovery, cannot be reduced to mere historical feats. It is a living heritage, a legacy that pulses within every Portuguese and Luso-descendant, and that, fifty years after April 25th, waits to be rediscovered and reintegrated into our vision for the future.

Concrete Actions for True Freedom

This is not merely a symbolic struggle; it is a battle that demands concrete actions. We need to re-evaluate our economic policies, reinvest in productive sectors that strengthen our country, and create an educational system that celebrates our culture and history unapologetically. Above all, we need a foreign policy that prioritizes Portugal’s interests, allowing us to be protagonists, not mere spectators, on the global stage.

Our Fight Continues: A Call to Action

To my compatriots who, like me, feel the weight of half a century of empty promises, I leave this message: our struggle is not over. We, who have witnessed and endured the illusions of the past, are also the guardians of the possibility for a truly free and sovereign Portugal. Let us not allow others to rob us of our essence, to dictate who we should be or whose interests we should serve. Portugal is greater than any regime, greater than any ideology. Our strength lies in our ability to rise, time and time again, despite all adversities.

May each of us, in our own way, contribute to this Path to Independence. May we have the courage to question, to resist, and to dream of a Portugal that owes nothing to anyone, that is true to itself, and that commits to the well-being of its people above all. This is the true freedom we yearn for, and it is the fight worth continuing.

And so we move forward, with pride and determination, walking together toward a new era of independence—an independence that begins, first and foremost, in our hearts and minds.