Roundup: Portugal marks Carnation revolution amid political, economic concerns

Portugal is cheerily celebrating its National Freedom Day on Monday, a national holiday in the country also referring to the Carnation Revolution, while Portuguese leaders call for consensus among political parties amid economic woes in the country.

Thousands of people marched down Avenida de Liberdade (Freedom Avenue) in downtown Lisbon on Monday to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, a bloodless coup on April 25, 1974, which overthrew a dictatorship and ushered in democracy in Portugal.

In a speech on the occasion in parliament to commemorate the event, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said it was time for Portugal to stop living as if it were still running an election campaign and called for consensus among parties.

"I am aware these are not easy times. Thankfully, the country's main objectives have a broad consensus," he said.

Rebelo de Sousa also said Portugal should fight for a more supportive Europe and that post-colonial Portugal should look after its language, culture value, and investment in education, science and innovation, as well as giving more weight to Portuguese communities around the world.

Rebelo de Sousa, who became president in January, said pluralism didn't mean that there could not be consensus at a political level.

President of the Portuguese Parliament Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues said freedom was the country's greatest strength, while noting the importance of the digital revolution for democracy.

The Left Bloc's Jorge Costa said in a speech earlier that there was still a lot left to do to avoid the country going back to pre-revolutionary times.

"We must focus on respecting jobs and a dignified life," he said.

Social Democrat parliament member Paula Teixeira de Cruz said the country has to draw attention to "demagogic governance, based on proposals for sustainability, which led the country to bankruptcy in 2011."

The Communists Party's Rita Rato said that Portugal was now in a new phase of national politics with the center-left Socialist Party in power, backed by radical left parties, and therefore had the obligation to recover the rights of Portuguese men and women.

Portugal's pro-austerity government was ousted last year and the new government led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa came into power, promising to "turn the page of austerity" by raising wages and boosting growth.

The Socialist Party has vowed to reduce the country's budget deficit without having to further cut pay or pensions or increasing income tax, aiming for a budget deficit target of 2.2 percent this year.

Portugal has faced a considerable pressure by Brussels for rolling back austerity, but it had insisted it remained committed to fiscal discipline.

Portugal's deficit was 4.4 percent in 2015, meaning it remains in the European Union disciplinary procedure for countries with deficits above 3 percent. Portugal also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the eurozone, currently standing above 12 percent. Endi