John,

Hi and many thanks for posting this up.

I know nothing of contemporary Portuguese politics, or about the organisation of this particular series of commemorative events marking the construction of the Lines of Torres Vedras.

However, reading through the programme of events it would appear to me that – unlike the period in question: 1808 and 1809, and most especially 1810 to 1811 – there is no real sense of a "common cause".

Of course, this is not the same as asserting that the "French party" ["partido francês"] is once more in the ascendancy!

Best wishes

Anthony