The Armed Forces Movement: A Revolution that Transformed Portugal

In the early hours of April 25, 1974, as the city of Lisbon lay shrouded in the quietude of the night, a seismic shift was about to unfold in Portugal's political landscape. The Armed Forces Movement, known as Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) in Portuguese, was a clandestine coalition of lower-ranking officers within the Portuguese Armed Forces. These officers, driven by a shared vision of change, orchestrated what would become known as the Carnation Revolution. This military coup not only dismantled the corporatist Estado Novo regime but also marked the end of the protracted Portuguese Colonial War in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau. As a result, these countries, along with Portugal’s other overseas territories such as Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor, embarked on paths toward independence.

Rise of the Armed Forces Movement

The MFA, under the emblematic leadership of Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho, operated with a distinct ideological framework that leaned left-wing to far-left. It allied itself with the Socialist and Communist Parties, standing in stark opposition to the Estado Novo. The movement's inception was not solely about liberating Portugal from authoritarian rule but also about addressing the grievances within the military ranks. A controversial set of military laws, such as Decretos-Leis n.os 353 and 409 introduced in 1973, threatened to reduce military costs and reformulate the military structure. These laws were particularly unpopular among younger military academy graduates, who felt undermined by a program allowing militia officers, after brief training, to attain ranks equivalent to theirs. The reforms, suggested by the Rhodesian Government, aimed to bolster the fight against African insurgencies while easing Portugal's economic burden.

The Revolutionary Coup

The MFA's narrative truly began in the early 1970s as a movement of captains—young officers who had cut their teeth in the Colonial War's harsh realities. Their demands were clear: back wages, civil liberties for the Portuguese people, and an end to the Colonial War. Strategically, the MFA sought to abolish the secret police, the PIDE/DGS, and establish free elections. Key figures like Vasco Lourenço, Vasco Gonçalves, and Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho meticulously planned the coup. Salgueiro Maia played a crucial role by commanding troops from the School of Cavalry at Santarém. Despite the leftist leanings of some officers, the movement was united in its goals.

An initial attempt in March 1974 faltered, but by April 25, the MFA's resolve had steeled. As dawn broke, Lisbon found itself under the control of MFA-loyal troops. Prime Minister Marcello Caetano, realizing the futility of resistance, relinquished power to General António de Spínola. The MFA's swift action set in motion the three 'Ds: democratization, decolonization, and development. However, Spínola's allegiance shifted over time, as evidenced by his involvement in a failed rightist counter-revolution in March 1975, after which he fled to Brazil. Between 1976 and 1980, Spínola led the Exército de Libertação de Portugal, a far-right paramilitary group based in Brazil, further complicating Portugal's volatile political landscape.

Transition to Democracy

The MFA-led Junta de Salvação Nacional began dismantling the remnants of the old regime. Yet, the burgeoning influence of pro-communist elements within the Junta alarmed many, leading to the abortive coup of November 25, 1975. This period, known as the Processo Revolucionário Em Curso (PREC), saw leftist and rightist factions vie for control. Eventually, moderates prevailed, steering Portugal away from extremism and toward centrist governance.

On April 25, 1976, exactly two years after the revolution, Portugal held legislative elections that signaled the definitive end of revolutionary turmoil. Moderate democratic parties won the majority, and by July 23, a Socialist cabinet assumed power. The new constitution, however, committed to socialism and upheld nationalizations and land seizures from 1975, marking an irreversible shift in Portugal's socio-economic fabric. The military retained a role in safeguarding democracy through an agreement with major political parties, ensuring its influence for four more years.

Sources

For further reading on the Armed Forces Movement and its pivotal role in Portuguese history:

• Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) - Infopédia
• Projecto CRiPE - Centro de Estudos em Relações Internacionais, Ciência Política e Estratégia
• Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho on the Decree Law - RTP 2 television
• João Bravo da Matta, A Guerra do Ultramar
• Time Magazine - Dismantling the Portuguese Empire
• Stewart Lloyd-Jones, Portugal's history since 1974
• Yossi Shain and Juan José Linz, Between States: Interim Governments and Democratic Transitions

For an in-depth exploration, visit the Wikipedia article on the Armed Forces Movement.