PR wanted to decorate IDL, but left medals in Belém

The President of the Republic announced this Saturday that he would present the IDL — Instituto Adelino Amaro da Costa with the Order of Liberty, but was informed that the medals had, in fact, remained at the Belém Palace.

This moment occurred at the end of the speech that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa gave at the opening session of the conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of IDL – Instituto Amaro da Costa, at the Thalia Theater, in Lisbon.

The head of state began by emphasizing the IDL's fight, "since its beginnings," for freedom in Portugal. He then addressed the chairman of the organization's board of directors, university professor and former CDS president Manuel Monteiro. Amaro da Costa was one of the founders of the CDS and Minister of Defense, having been one of the victims of the plane crash that killed former Prime Minister Sá Carneiro in 1980.

“Therefore, I would present to its president [Manuel Monteiro] – I don’t know if you want to include anyone else, those who have had responsibilities at the institute throughout its history – the insignia corresponding to the title of honorary member of the Order of Liberty,” he declared.

At that moment, someone in the audience informed the President that it was impossible to carry out the formal act immediately. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was heard to say in disbelief: "You didn't bring it? You don't have it with you?"

Then he turned back to the theater audience and offered a humorous note: "It's a small bureaucratic gap that shows that the country, in many respects, hasn't changed much in 50 years. It's acknowledged. The charter has been signed," he emphasized.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa then asked the current directors and some former directors of the IDL — Instituto Adelino Amaro da Costa to travel soon to the Belém Palace to award the insignia.

In his speech, the President of the Republic recalled that he was a collaborator of the institute and witnessed its activities over the last 50 years.

"As President of the Portuguese Republic, [I believe] that your 50 years should be recognized by bestowing an award on Portugal's behalf. And I thought there was only one that would be appropriate: the Order of Liberty. Because the Order of Liberty is designed for all those who have fought in the past, fight in the present, and will fight in the future for freedom," the head of state explained.

On this point, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa went a little further: “Portugal and Portuguese democracy are indeed very grateful to IDL – Instituto Amaro da Costa for the contribution it made in its creation, in surviving difficult circumstances and in contributing to the affirmation of freedom and democracy in Portugal.”