Portugal's Carnation Revolution

Portugal¹s Carnation Revolution

In 1908 King Carlos and his older son were killed. His brother son, King
Manuel II escaped the attack and took over the throne. Due to a growing
republican feeling and popular disinterest with the monarchy, in October of
1910, the King and his family had to flee to Great Britain. The country
became a republic. Portugal's experience with democracy, however, the next
sixteen years was not a harmonious one. Finally, in 1926 a military
dictatorship chose Salazar to head the Ministry of Finance. He resigned two
months later, but was asked in 1928 to head that same ministry. With
Salazar¹s becoming the Prime minister in 1940, Fascism was the form of
government the Portuguese knew until 1974. For the time period of forty
seven years, Portugal, Salazar and Fascism became one. During World War II,
Portugal aligned ideologically with Hitler, but decided to become a neutral
state due to its colonial interests in India and Africa, which depended on
Great Britain, its old time ally and colonial partner. After the War and in
the late 1950's, Portugal saw whatever was left of India at Goa, Damão and
Dio go, this after a very short but bloody struggle in those three colonies.
In the 1960's, it became involved in a three front conflict with rebel
forces in Angola, Portuguese Guine and Mozambique. It was Portugal's
Vietnam at three fronts. For the next 14 years, all of Portugal's energy
went to fight in this self consuming conflict that led to disenchantment in
the military for the government. After the loss of many lives and a
general dissatisfaction for Salazar¹s and Marcelo Caetano's Fascist regime,
the military itself chose to put an end to the dictatorship they had created
almost fifty years earlier. On April 25, 1974, thirty year ago on Sunday,
Portugal woke up to the Carnation Revolution that surprised the world. The
military captains or the MFA, the Military Movement responsible for this
coup, had been planning in secret for this rebellion. Immediately, the
people supported this movement. From one day to the next, Portugal¹s
Fascism, the longest on the continent of Europe, was over. The next few
years saw Portugal move dangerously to the left. Under the influence of the
socialists and communists, the colonies were left to themselves. Portugal
turned away from its close to six hundred year colonial ties and started
staking out a new path and a return to its origins and Europe. Immersed in
the cold War World, this revolution made the headlines for months in a row.
The cry of the day was, "A People United Shall Never Be Defeated."
During the period right after this "Carnation Revolution," there was general
exhilaration, which soon led to confusion. Immerse in the middle of a Cold
War, Portugal moved from a vision of a federal government, made up of
autonomous regions where the old colonies would be an integral part
(Spínola), to a socialistic, communistic view that permitted the quick
independence of the colonies and a strong turn to socialism at home. It was
during this phase that a Movement for Independence appeared in the Azores.
After Portugal¹s allegiance turned to a more moderate form of government, a
strong pro-autonomy movement gave rise to an Azorean autonomy and the
supporters of independence faded in the background. Today, the Azores have
a self government, however, watched over closely by a minister of the
republic, a figure head that many in the Azores find an insult and hindrance
to true self government. This minister has the power to override any local
decision that comes in direct conflict with national law or national
interests. After 30 years of democracy, Portugal sees itself as a member of
the European Union. As a member of that Union, it abides by rules and
guidelines shared by all other members. Portugal's Close to Fifty Year
Fascist legacy has thus given way to a more modern and democratic
Weltanschauung, especially with the younger generation, the ones who were
born after the Carnation Revolution.
April 25 will definitely forever be imprinted in the memory of every
Portuguese. It marked an end of a nightmare and a beginning of something
new - liberty, democracy. Sunday, Portugal looks back to reminisce about
this very special event in its recent history. Portugal definitely is not
the same country it was thirty years ago and there are plenty of reasons for
celebrating.

Silvério Gabriel de Melo
Terceira, Açores