The Portuguese soldier who chose the anthem of the Carnation Revolution dies

MADRID Dec. 19 () –

The soldier Carlos de Almada Contreiras, who chose the song ‘Grandola Vila Morena’ as the sign for the start of the Carnation Revolution in Portugal, died this Wednesday at the age of 83, according to the Lusa news agency.

Contreiras – who was the Council of State, Revolutionary Councilor and director of the Information Coordination Service in 1975 – has died after suffering a sudden illness, family sources consulted by said agency have explained, and have indicated that the date and place The funeral ceremonies will be announced soon.

On April 25, 1974, the first verse of the song, performed by José Afonso ‘Zeca’, was broadcast on the radio as a signal for the troops to understand that they had to begin the military operations that led to the revolution, becoming anthem of the fall

A month ago, Celeste Caeiro, the waitress who managed to transform the carnation into a revolutionary symbol in Portugal in 1974, died at the age of 91, in the town of Leiria.