The military, 25 April and the Portuguese transition to democracy

Abstract

On 25 April 1974 the Armed Forces Movement (MFA Movimento das Foras Armadas) rose against the dictatorial regime that had governed Portugal for 48 years. This event was the beginning of a turbulent transition process that was to culminate in the approval of a new constitution in April 1976 and in the instauration of a Western style pluralist democracy. There are many political scientists and historians who note the original and unexpected nature of this transition; however, there are very many different interpretations with respect to the roles played by each of the actors in the process: the armed forces, the parties and political movements and the social forces/movements. The aim of this paper is to clarify this matter through an examination of the principal events of the revolution.

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“…During the summer of 1975, "conflict was fed by the development of strong grassroots political organizations such as the workers' commissions, the growing challenge posed by the extreme left during the crisis, and its influence within the military" (Pinto, 2008). "By August 1975 the MFA had become deeply divided and its authority weakened" (Rezola, 2008), as "democratic socialists, populists, and Marxists-Leninists" (Maxwell, 1995) within the MFA struggled for power. Melo Antunes, one of the original leaders of the MFA, and eight other moderate socialist military officers known as the Group of Nine (Grupo dos Nove) published a manifesto, calling "for a middle way between Russian-style communism and Western European social democracy, but also for a greater respect for public opinion" (Harvey, 1978).…”

“…"As a result of the events of 25 November, a new political moment opened: the transition from the revolutionary process of 1974-75 to the institutionalization of democracy" (Rezola, 2008). Moderate socialists within the military triumphed.…”

“…However, "from April 25, 1974, until July 1976…Portugal experienced an intense period of anarchy and disorder as various factions jockeyed with one another for power" (Opello, 1991) caused by "divergent political views" (Maxwell, 1995) with the MFA itself. "The first phase of the transition (May-September 1974) was dominated by the struggle between President Spínola and the MFA's coordinating commission on the issue of decolonization" (Rezola, 2008). The conflict ended with Spínola's being blocked by COPCON from taking power and being replaced by General Costa Gomez, who "committed to rapid decolonization" (Opello, 1991) and the ascension of Colonel Vasco Gonçalves, who was close to the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) (Maxwell, 1995), to the premiership.…”

“…The elections revealed strong public support for moderate socialists, which strengthened the moderate socialists within the MFA. "By August 1975, the MFA had become deeply divided and its authority weakened" (Rezola, 2008) as "democratic socialists, populists, and Marxists-Leninists" (Maxwell, 1995) were struggling for power. On November 25, 1975, a left-wing coup attempt was put down by a countercoup which was successfully commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Ramalho Eanes and led by the Group of Nine.…”