‘Democracy becomes our weapon, it is far more than merely putting a cross on a ballet’, the story of the 1974 Carnation Revolution:

Authored by Izzy Maundrill

The Carnation Revolution is a story of peaceful protest that had a huge effect on the Portuguese government and is a shining example of democracy in action. It is a message of rebellion told by songs on the radio, a symbolic flower, and the power of the working class.

The Estado Novo Regime

‘the walls have ears’

Portugal had been under the Estado Novo regime started by Oliveira Salazar for over four decades by 1974. It utilized methods such as secret police (PIDE), suppression of free speech, and manipulation of elections to oppress any opposition to the regime. During this time, it is estimated that 30,000 were imprisoned, with many tortured and assassinated. The atmosphere amongst the public was tense and full of distrust as anyone could have been a member of the secret police. This is exemplified by a common saying during this period being ‘As paredas tem ouvidos’, meaning ‘the walls have ears’. Further restrictions were put on women with the Constitution of 1933 stating that all citizens were equal ‘except for the woman’. This was reflected in laws preventing wives from working and spread to the institutionalised financial abuse of women within society. In the wider political sphere, Salazar declared that Portugal was neutral during World War II to the National Assembly, citing economic reasons. This was until 1941 when he and the government expressed support for Germany, with three days of national mourning declared following the death of Hitler. As a result of Salazar becoming too ill to rule due to old age, Caetano replaced him in power. Under Caetano, the regime remained in place, the only minor change was demonstrated in censorship becoming marginally more relaxed. Gomez, a leader of the Carnation Revolution, reflects upon this time, discussing how ‘back then we barely knew how to write an article, or how to talk on the radio’. This extreme oppression contributed heavily to the build up towards the revolution. However, the most significant element of the regime that tipped the scales towards revolt was its policy on colonisation.

The Colonial Wars

Salazar and Caetano promoted a highly imperial mindset with the belief in Iusotropicalism, a belief that Portugal was a better coloniser than the rest of Europe. Portugal held control over countries such as Mozambique, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau, determining that that they had no rights for self-determination. This clashed with the emerging sense of nationalism in the African colonies. This resulted in what became known as the Colonial Wars, or the Angolan, Ginae-Bissau, and Mozambiquan War of Independence. The war was costly for both sides with 40% of Portugal’s expenditure being diverted towards it. 13,000 Portuguese soldiers died and an estimated 85,000 deaths were recorded between the relevant colonies. It was in this environment where the plans for the revolution were stirring amongst the Portuguese foot soldiers. Gomez, the leader previously mentioned who was also a soldier stationed in the colonies, commented that the war was ‘unpopular and dirty’. He also said that during this time, he and his colleagues discovered that ‘the war didn’t make any

sense’. However, his attitude did not abide by the highly imperialist view of the Estado Novo regime. This resulted in Caetano refusing to pull out of conflict, in turn triggering the Carnation Revolution.

Event

The foundation of the revolution was formed of the soldier ranks stationed in the colonies, with Cason, a domestic politics advisor during the revolution, noting how they were ‘complete unknowns, to the diplomatic community at least’. The revolution began on the April 25th, 1974, with a simple song sequence on the radio: Depois do Adeus followed by Grandola, Vila Morena. ‘em cada rosto igualdade, O povo e quem mais ordena’… in each face there is equality, it is the people who lead. The lyrics in the second song were perceived as portraying a communist message and this led to it being banned, making its playing on the radio symbolic of the revolution’s aims to free the people’s speech. The songs were a signal to the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), the collection on rebelling officers, to occupy strategic areas of Portugal and begin the revolt. The MFA advised the public to stay indoors; however, the people of Portugal openly supported the soldiers in their thousands. Within the crowd it is said that a local flower-seller put a Carnation into the barrel of the one of the soldier’s guns and this action became a symbol of the crowds’ peace. There were reports of the tanks being used for joyrides rather than violence, with the message of peace being highlighted by Robert. S. Pastorino, a member of the public. He said that ‘I have a wonderful picture of my son, who was six years old, standing between two young Portuguese soldiers. They’re holding rifles, each with a Carnation in the barrel and they are smiling’. The revolution spread rapidly with an estimated 200,000 workers going on strike nationwide. Throughout the rebellion there were only four deaths, these were caused by protestors being shot by regime loyalists; they were then arrested. This is a remarkably low number considering the huge changes that followed April 25th.

Results and End Notes

The MFA never had any intention of governing the country when they rebelled, they instead called upon Spinola, a military leader, and a group of soldiers to lead the first provincial government. This caused the collapse of the Estado Novo regime. In the beginning the new government of Portugal was unstable with six different provincial governments taking control in the space of two months. A constitutional government was then formed with a long term and more moderate party being elected in 1976. The Reformist Socialist Party collaborated with right wing soldiers to nominate Soares as the Prime Minister. In the months following the revolution, the atmosphere transformed as suspected members of the secret police were removed from all establishments such as schools, universities, and workplaces. The privatisation of businesses was still permitted whilst the struggles of the working class were better addressed with rights such as free speech and the restoration of voting.

Varela, a writer who specialises in the Carnation Revolution, highlights the efforts of the working class in the revolt, commenting on how ‘the leaders of the Portuguese revolution were those who lived from their work… intellectual and manual workers, men and women,

skilled and unskilled’. She emphasises the power that these people had by coming together by saying that ‘democracy becomes our weapon, it is far more than merely putting a cross on a ballet’. The event is celebrated today on the 25th of April in Portugal as Freedom Day. When looking at the peaceful process of the revolution alongside the complete political U-turn towards a freer society, it is a brilliant blueprint on how to peacefully rebel.