Carnation Revolution

The Carnation Revolution , which took place in Portugal, was a military coup carried out on April 25, 1974, which ended the 41 years of Salazar's dictatorship.

It is one of the most important historical events of the 70's.

April 25, 1974

The Portuguese could no longer stand the impositions of the Salazar regime, so a group of soldiers, the so-called "capitães de Abril", began to plan their deposition.

There was a first attempt in March, but this was unsuccessful. In this way, a month later, another attack is made and on April 25, 1974, the streets of Lisbon become the stage of the military coup that managed to depose President Marcello Caetano.

Caetano surrendered at 7:30 pm that day and would go into exile in Rio de Janeiro, where he would die.

Name Origin

The Carnation Revolution took place virtually without violence, with only four dead. Faced with the quick victory and no hostilities, it is said that a florist began offering flowers to soldiers. Other versions claim it was a pedestrian returning from work.

In any case, the flower was given to the soldiers, who put them in the barrels of their rifles. Citizens who took to the streets to celebrate, also picked carnations and thus, this flower became the symbol and name of the revolution.

Chronology

• On September 9, 1973, the Movement responsible for the end of the dictatorship in Portugal, the MFA - Movement of the Armed Forces, begins.
• On March 16, 1974, a military coup attempt fails and about 200 soldiers are arrested.
• Then, on March 24, the MFA meets and decides to overthrow the government through a military coup.
• A month later, on the 24th of April, the newspaper "República" publishes a note for the people to listen to that night's Renascença radio broadcast.
• On that day, at 10:55 pm, the Associated Broadcasters of Lisbon start broadcasting the song “E After the Goodbye ”, performed by Paulo de Carvalho, and the operations of the MFA begin.
• On April 25 at 00:20 the radio broadcast of the song “Grândola Vila Morena ”, by Zeca Afonso, who was then censored, was the password used by the MFA to inform that the military operations would be carried out.

Causes of the Carnation Revolution

Several reasons for the end of the regime can be pointed out.

The main one was the death of its creator and mentor, Antônio de Oliveira Salazar, in 1970, who embodied the principles and values ​​of that doctrine.

Likewise, the wear and tear caused by the colonial war fought, mainly in Angola and Mozambique, was increasingly difficult to maintain and justify.

The timid reforms of the regime itself, after the inauguration of Marcello Caetano (1906-1980) are important, as Portuguese society wanted to experience the same life as in Western Europe.

Consequences of the Carnation Revolution

Among the consequences of the revolution, the following stand out:

1) The end of the colonial war and the recognition of the independence of the Portuguese colonies in Africa:

• Guinea-Bissau, September 9, 1974;
• Mozambique, June 25, 1975;
• Cape Verde, July 5, 1975;
• São Tomé and Príncipe, on July 12, 1975;
• Angola, November 11, 1975.

The independence of these territories provoked the return of thousands of Portuguese in a disorderly manner, which would be an inconvenience for the new government.

2) Those exiled by the Salazar regime were able to return.

3) A transitional regime is established, the Junta de Salvação Nacional, whose president will be General Antônio Spínola (1910-1996). In 1975, after free and direct elections to the legislature, the elaboration of the new Magna Carta begins.

4) The new Portuguese Constitution was approved on April 2, 1976. On June 27 of the same year, the presidential election was held, won by Ramalho Eanes (1935) and with Mário Soares (1924-2017) as prime minister.

5) Portugal begins the process of joining the European Economic Community.

Salazarist dictatorship

Salazarism, led by university professor Antônio de Oliveira Salazar, began in 1933. In 1928 Salazar became head of the Ministry of Finance and excelled in this task as a result of the measures he implemented, thus stabilizing the Portuguese economy.

Thus, in 1932 he was appointed President of the Council of Ministers and, according to the new constitution of 1933, he achieved full powers.

Authoritarianism, censorship, repression, exiles, colonial war were the characteristics of Salazarism. Equally. to control the population, there was the role of the PIDE (International Police for the Defense of the State) - the political police.

Salazar's government, also known as Estado Novo, lasted 41 years. After the retirement due to disability of the then dictator Salazar, victim of a stroke in 1968 and dying in 1970, it was continued by Marcello Caetano.

Music

The Carnation Revolution was marked by musical art. The song “Grândola Vila Morena” , by Zeca Afonso, became the anthem of the revolution, thus being well known in Portugal.

Check out the lyrics of this song:

Grândola, brunette village
brotherhood land
The people are the ones who order the most
Within you, O city

Within you, O city
The people are the ones who order the most
brotherhood land
Grândola, Morena Village

At every corner, a friend
In every face, equality
Grandola, brunette village
Land of brotherhood

Land of brotherhood
Grandola, brunette village
In every face, equality
The people are the ones who order the most

In the shade of a holm oak
who no longer knew how old
I swore to have a companion
Grandola, your will

Grandola at your will
I swore to have a companion
In the shade of a holm oak
Who no longer knew his age

Here you can access the original version of the song:

Curiosities

• April 25th is a public holiday in Portugal and the date is called Freedom Day.
• The end of the dictatorship in Portugal was greeted with enthusiasm in Brazil by those who fought against the military dictatorship. Composer Chico Buarque (1944) wrote the song “Tanto Mar” in honor of the Carnation Revolution.

Read more:

• 70's
• Totalitarian Regimes in Europe
• Portuguese Africa
• Francism in Spain