Portugal's new conservative government, in its first edict, on Wednesday reinstated the heraldic symbols harking back to the Age of Exploration on the official state emblem that its predecessor had ditched for a "more inclusive and secular" logo.
While some Portuguese applauded the return of the old symbols on social media, others lamented that the government's priorities were misplaced amid a cost-of-living crisis, Reuters/Carl Recine
Portugal's new conservative government, in its first edict, on Wednesday reinstated the heraldic symbols harking back to the Age of Exploration on the official state emblem that its predecessor had ditched for a "more inclusive and secular" logo.
The symbols include the armillary sphere, which is an early astronomical device used by seafarers, five shields symbolizing the Muslim kings defeated by King Afonso I in the 12th century, and seven castles taken back from the Moors during the Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula by the Christians.
They all feature on the Portuguese flag against a red and green background, and Cabinet Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro told a news conference the symbols were "essential to our identity, our history and culture".
Only last year, the Socialist government had introduced a simplified emblem with a yellow circle sandwiched between a green and a red rectangle, citing the modern context of inclusivity and the "visual density" of the original design, which compromised its digital rendering and printouts.
While some Portuguese applauded the return of the old symbols on social media, others lamented that the government's priorities were misplaced amid a cost-of-living crisis.
"Their priorities are the reeking past. Progressivism and modernism have been abandoned. You know what awaits us, return to the past," one user posted on X.
Noted another: "I want the promises fulfilled. My salary is still low".
Reporting by Andrei Khalip
Kaja Kallas, who resigned as Estonia's prime minister on Monday to become the European Union's next foreign policy chief, is known for her tough stance on Russia, which may raise doubts as to whether she can represent views from across the bloc.
In a country already on edge, the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has enraged his supporters, paused the Democratic campaign and raised fears of further political violence in the run-up to November's election.
U.S. President Joe Biden must decide quickly whether to stay in the 2024 White House race, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime Biden ally, said on Wednesday while declining to say definitively that she wanted him to run.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.