Definition of Estado Novo de Portugal

From among the European court dictatorships fascist that occurred throughout the twentieth century, perhaps one of the least known is the Portuguese Estado Novo.

Contemporary with Italian fascism, German Nazism and Spanish Francoism, the Estado Novo (in Spanish, “New State”) consisted in an authoritarian and corporatist regime that occurred in Portugal from 1933 until the carnation revolution of April 25, 1974.

Portugal had changed from a monarchical regime to a government Republican in 1910, after a time of great political-social upheavals that, however, continued after the exile of the monarch Manuel II.

In 1926, a military coup took power. It is a time of birth of the fascist and totalitarian movements in Europe.

The finance minister of the new regime is António de Oliveira Salazar, whose political career would bring him a meteoric rise.

Salazar would clean up the country's finances, and was appointed President of the Council of Ministers in 1932.

Quickly, Salazar would establish a dictatorial regime of one party and state unions, which suppressed certain individual freedoms, in tune with the European fascist regimes. It is what is known as Estado Novo.

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Salazar Portugal would participate in the Spanish Civil War helping the rebel side with a corps of volunteers, the “viriatos” (named in honor of the Lusitanian leader who resisted the Romans).

Despite maintaining an affinity with the axis during World War II, Portugal did not get involved, either directly or indirectly (unlike its Spanish neighbor, who would send volunteers to the eastern front under the banner of the so-called Blue Division) in favor of that side during the contest.

A traditional ally of Great Britain, Portugal knew of Spanish ambitions over its territory, so a powerful ally such as the British had to be secured.

In 1968, Salazar must withdraw, due to illness, from power. His position goes to Marcelo Caetano.

Previously, in the country's overseas colonies (Angola in 1961, Guinea Bissau in 1963 and Mozambique in 1964), there had been experienced revolutionary outbreaks with the aim of seeking independence, in the context of a decolonization process that affected the continent African and Asia.

The beginning of the end of the Estado Novo was the attitude of the Portuguese government regarding the colonial wars.

Without wanting to lose the imperial character of the country, the rulers did not see that the lower commands of the army were unhappy with some conflicts (especially the one in Angola) that were bleeding out.

As a result of this discontent barracks, the rumor of sabers began, which took shape in the coup of April 25, 1974, known as "the carnation revolution" (revolution two cravos in Portuguese).

Portugal has been one of the few countries, if not the only one, in which the dictatorship has had a more civil aspect than military (despite having started by an army coup), and the end of which has been determined by the weapon military.

Besides, the revolution of April 25 is considered exemplary since it was practically bloodless. Only four people lose their lives during the shooting that police officers politics (PIDE / DGS) unleashed on a demonstration that the same day 25 demanded the abolition of said police force.

Despite a certain level of permissiveness (for example, the rallies of the Communist Party of Portugal -PCP-), it is considered that the Portuguese dictatorship was one of the toughest in Europe, as well as the most long.

The postwar political situation, with its alignment on the anti-communist camp, and its traditional alliances saved the Portuguese dictatorial regime for many years. The political police, the aforementioned PIDE, is also considered one of the toughest, with methods reminiscent of the German Gestapo.

The post-revolution of April 25 led to a period of certain political-social instability, but finally the democracy established itself in Portugal with force. Still today, its citizens annually commemorate April 25, chanting slogans that the revolution, its meaning and its implications must not be forgotten, and the vows sworn in those days must be fulfilled and renovated.

Photos: Fotolia - Joyt / Ingo Menhard

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