- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 7 May 1976 (7th Sitting) (see Doc. 3782,Doc. 3782, report of the Committee on European Non-Member Countries). Text adopted by the Assembly on 7 May 1976 (7th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly
2. Having heard representatives of the Constituent Assembly of Portugal, elected on 25 April 1975, and of the Assembly of the Republic, elected on 25 April 1976 ;
3. Welcoming the decision of the armed forces, in conformity with the original "MFA Programme", to recognise the supremacy of elected civilian authority, while retaining for themselves only a consultative and guarantee role ;
4. Further welcoming the promulgation of a Constitution recognising the powers of control and initiative of the Assembly of the Republic, and guaranteeing human rights and fundamental freedoms including all those listed in the European Convention on Human Rights ;
5. Also welcoming, in this connection, the release of almost all political prisoners, whether servants of the former regime or held following the events of 28 September 1974, 11 March 1975 and 25 November 1975 ;
6. Congratulating the Portuguese people on voting overwhelmingly on 25 April 1976, as on 25 April 1975, for political parties which accept democratic principles, thereby decisively rejecting the appeals of extremist groups,
7. Calls upon the governments of all member states to intensify co-operation with Portugal bilaterally and, especially, multilaterally through European organisations, thereby showing practical European solidarity, and also helping to ensure that progress towards fully democratic conditions will not be jeopardised by Portugal's current grave economic situation inherited from fifty years of dictatorship, and aggravated both by world recession and by the aftermath of rapid decolonisation ;
8. Resolves to intensify relations with Portugal's freely elected representatives, until such time as an elected President of the Republic has drawn the consequences of the legislative election results, thereby paving the way for Portuguese membership of the Council of Europe.
