President Cavaco Silva's commemoration speech heavily critized

President Cavaco Silva's speech in Parliament, 

on the 39th anniversary of the "Carnation Revolution",

which ended 40 years of dictatorship in Portugal, 

has been fiercely critized by the left and ultra-left parties.

But was it that bad?

Most moderate politicians and observers 

considered the speech to be in the best national interest.

It was courageous and balanced.

Cavaco Silva dispelled the idea of a political crisis 

and calling for early elections. 

He defended the urgency of economic growth, 

and censured the errors of the financial forecasts, 

and identified new approaches to Europe.

He advised politicians NOT to exploit the sufferings 

of the Portuguese for political reasons.

Cavaco Silva listed some of the positive consequences 

of the path taken in the last two years 

and praised the resilience 

and mutual aid that the Portuguese have, once again, revealed.

He decried the worrying rate of unemployment 

and said that the fight against this scourge should be made top priority. 

He spoke out against the high rate of youth unemployment, 

but stressed that those unemployed of forty to sixty years of age 

should not be forgotten.

The Socialists said that Cavaco's speech divided the country, 
saying it was: "clearly partisan" 

and that "in no way contributed to the consensus in the country."

"Secretary-General of the PS believes that the speech 
of the President of the Republic has exacerbated divisions 
in the country and jeopordised the neutral position 

expected from the highest magistrate of the nation."

But then, the socialists are heavily divided within themselves, 

with a new congress coming up this weekend, 

the group of "Young Turks" having written an open letter to Mr. Seguro, 

the constant underlying pressure from António Costa, patiently lying in waiting 

to grab the position as new Secretary General, 

and ex-PM José Sócrates weekly on TV 
launching his ferocious attacks.

Mr. Seguro has declared himself ready to be PM, 
having hoped to create a big enough political crisis to force new elections, 
and having point-blankly refused to seek any kind of consensus 
with the current PM, in trying to find solutions 

for the enormous challenges that Portugal faces

in consolidating its public expenditure 

and comply with the troika's strict obligations.

Cavaco's warning NOT to exploit the suffering 

of the Portuguese for political reasons, 

rubbed some salt in the socialist's wound, 

as the saying goes, 
hence the fierce verbal attack on his speech.

Between the turmoil within the Socialist camp, 

and the extreme difficulties facing the country, 

Mr. Seguro has been a total disappointment 

for his stubbornness in refusing any patriotic consensus, 

blindly persuing his personal political ambitions.

Cavaco Silva's position and speech has shown itselve

 as balanced and courageous. 

By ensuring political stability in Portugal in a time of dire straits, 
and blind political ambition,

his words were a balm of comfort and relief.