President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has withdrawn from appearing at the Parliament of Portugal to attend the session on April 25, the date of the Carnation Revolution – a historical episode of the end of the Salazar period in 1974.
The possibility of Lula giving a speech at the ceremony has generated political controversy in the Portuguese Parliament and opposition from political parties. Last week, opponents called for protests against Lula’s participation in the Portuguese Parliament.
The leader of the Liberal Initiative, Deputy Rui Rocha, argued that the Parliament “cannot receive an ally of Putin like Lula.
The vice-president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Paulo Rangel, also spoke out against the Brazilian president.
The Chega party has called a demonstration for April 25 against Lula’s visit to the country in front of the National Assembly, the seat of the Portuguese legislature, in Lisbon.
According to CNN Portugal, Lula chose not to include the solemn session in his schedule during the five-day visit. He is scheduled to leave for Spain in the late morning of Tuesday the 25th, where he will have lunch with King Philip VI.