It is the 50th anniversary of the fall of the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal. The Carnation Revolution symbolizes the path to democracy, European integration, and the renunciation of its colonies. The Carnation Revolution is the name of the military coup d’état on April 25, 1974, which ended the dictatorship in Portugal, the longest-lasting authoritarian regime in Europe (40 years), without a shot being fired. The name Salazar may be familiar from the villain in Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.
History of the Revolution
The coup d’état of 1926 swiftly brought an end to the First Republic and laid the groundwork for the era of the National Chief, leading to the establishment of the so-called “National Dictatorship.” This marked the beginning of the process that eventually culminated in the Carnation Revolution.
The National Dictatorship, as it came to be known, evolved into the regime known as the “Estado Novo” under the leadership of António de Oliveira Salazar, who served as Minister of Finance at the time. This system was modeled after conservative and autocratic ideologies.
From 1933 onward, Portugal was governed by the Estado Novo, or “New State,” officially designated as the Second Portuguese Republic. The authoritarian rule under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (until 1968) was characterized by repression and censorship. Catholicism was the official religion of the country, and the Church maintained a close alliance with the dictatorship. Additionally, the regime employed a secret police force to suppress political freedoms and civil liberties, including the right to strike or form trade unions. Opponents of the regime were often imprisoned or even killed.
Various national groups opposed the Estado Novo’s colonial policies, staging revolts against Portuguese colonization in African territories such as Angola, Guinea Bissau, and Mozambique. These colonial ventures proved to be highly costly and resulted in significant bloodshed.
The General Who Challenged Salazar
In the 1958 elections, Air Force General Humberto Delgado was the candidate of the opposing party against the Salazar government.
The General, who had pinned his hopes on the constitutional power granted to the head of state to dismiss the prime minister, garnered immense support from the people, who had long been victims of dictatorial rule. This posed a serious threat to the Salazar government, unlike any it had faced since taking office.
General Humberto Delgado, known in history as the “Fearless General,” emerged as a powerful symbol of courage and hope for the Portuguese people. It would not be easy to thwart his momentum.
He organized a conference at a café named Chave D’Ouro (which means “Golden Key” in Portuguese), attended by 300 members of the press. Delgado declared at the Lisbon conference: “I hope to emerge victorious in this election, because there is no longer any fear.”
In a gesture of loyalty to the General Delgado, The International Airport of Lisbon was named after him.
The Path to the Coup
In March 1974, General Antonio de Spinola was dismissed as acting minister of the armed forces. He had previously authored a book advocating an end to the Portuguese colonial wars and was critical of the current administration.
The Movement of the Armed Forces (MFA) quickly coalesced around dissident and low-ranking soldiers who supported Spinola. Colonels within the army also expressed discontent with a law that granted privileges to conscripts, which offended professional officers. The army’s backing of the government was rapidly diminishing.
Just before midnight on April 24, the rebels arranged for Portugal’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘E Depois do Adeus’ (And After The Farewell) to be broadcast on Lisbon radio. This served as the first of two secret signals anticipated by the army.
Tanks rolled into the center of Lisbon in the early hours of April 25, swiftly securing key locations such as the airport, television and radio stations, and the Salazar Bridge over the Tagus river. Prime Minister Marcello Caetano, along with other ministers, was captured in the Carmo barracks, which housed the National Republican Guard and troops armed with machine guns. Caetano resisted briefly but ultimately surrendered to Spinola. Initially held on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Caetano spent the rest of his life in exile in Brazil.
Although the revolutionaries’ radio broadcasts instructed people to remain indoors, citizens took to the streets to support the troops. By sunrise on April 26, the MFA Armed Forces had assumed control and pledged to hold elections for a national assembly at the earliest opportunity.
After the Revolution
Spinola was appointed interim president and served until the end of September 1974, succeeding Francisco de Costa Gomes. The Junta of National Salvation assumed power. The period until April 25, 1975, when the election of the Portuguese Constituent Assembly took place, was marked by chaos due to counter-coup attempts. In the following year, the first constitutional government, led by Mario Soares of the Socialist Party, came into power. Decolonization (anti-colonialism) was a primary focus of the new government. The Portuguese Colonial War had ended, and the territories of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome, Mozambique, and Principe had gained independence. East Timor, which was immediately occupied by Indonesia, was also abandoned. The more than one million Portuguese citizens who left these territories were called retornados (returnees).
Under the new democratic government, censorship was abolished, political prisoners were released, and freedom of expression was guaranteed. People were now free to practice any religion. Land was largely redistributed, and 60% of the economy was nationalized.
Dictatorship Overthrown with Carnations
José Afanso’s song “Grandola Vila Morena” was the flare for the Carnation Revolution.
The Carnation Revolution got its name from the carnations attached to the barrels of the soldiers’ rifles, which were decorated with carnations to celebrate it in the streets. This symbol is considered a sign of peaceful and popularly supported revolution. Following the revolution, Portugal took its place among the democratic countries of Europe and entered a period that allowed the country to develop politically, economically and culturally.
April 25 is commemorated as Freedom Day in Portugal and is celebrated with various events throughout the country. The Carnation Revolution is considered one of the most important turning points in Portugal’s modern history and symbolizes the country’s progress in the democratization process. The bridge, formerly named Salazar, was renamed the April 25 Bridge.
Based on BBC History and Jornal de Negocios.
