A Revolution That Ended ‘Salazarism’
After April 25, the Portuguese population began to let go of the issues that had been willfully forgotten in a drawer. Fifty years ago, a military and popular uprising buried almost five decades of dictatorship and, especially, 41 years of ‘Salazarism’, the Portuguese version of fascism that left Lusitanians without freedom.
A Unique Moment in History
The Carnation Revolution was a movement almost unique in the world, in which the military sided with the people to restore democracy after decades of terror. Residents in Andorra who lived through the uprising of the captains of April and the intermediate commands of the armed forces who allied themselves to overthrow the Salazar regime experienced this historic moment.
The Context of the Revolution
In 1974, Portugal was in an economic crisis, lacked freedoms and was immersed in armed conflicts with African colonies. The wear and tear was absolute and the terror was a constant. The Carnation Revolution put an end to this situation and opened the doors to freedom and democracy.
The End of ‘Salazarism’
‘Salazarism’, led by Antonio Salazar, imposed a retrograde constitution that plunged Portugal into a constant depression. After Salazar’s death in 1968, Marcello Caetano extended the dictatorship for another six years until the armed forces and the people demanded change.
The Fall of the Totalitarian Regime
The Carnation Revolution marked the fall of the totalitarian regime, ending censorship and allowing free expression. This revolution represented the recovery of lost freedoms and symbolized the path to democracy.
The Celebration of Freedom
More than 50 years later, Portugal celebrates the Carnation Revolution as a historic moment that marked the path to freedom and democracy. This celebration also reaches other Portuguese communities, such as Andorra, where this milestone is remembered with festive and institutional events.
