National Action Movement
Encyclopedia
Movimento de Acção Nacional (National Action Movement) was a short-lived nationalist organisation in Portugal
.
Formed in 1985, the group drew most of its membership from neo-fascist groups, and became associated with street violence against immigrants. Although it was avowedly a cultural organisation the MAC soon developed close links with the country's white power skinhead movement. The violence culminated in the assassination
of a Trotskyite activist for which a number of members were brought to trial in 1992 (although those sympathetic to the group claimed that the death had been as a result of a fight between Trotskyites and MAC supporters). Whilst this trial was on-going MAN officially disbanded but nonetheless the leaders of the group were brought to trial at the Portuguese Constitutional Court
for forming a group that espoused 'Fascist ideology
', which had been banned by the Constitution of Portugal
. The trial attracted much mainstream media attention as it was the first case that the Constitutional Court had heard publicly but ultimately it was unable to pass a judgement as the movement had already disbanded.
Pedro Grilo was ultimately jailed for 12 years for the murder, a stabbing of activist Jose Carvalho in Rua da Palma, although he escaped from prison after serving four months.
Although the group had officially ceased to exist, several members went on to join the National Alliance, which was formed in 1995. On its own this group made little impact, although in 1999 it was able to take control of the old Democratic Renovator Party and reconstitute it as the National Renewal Party
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Formed in 1985, the group drew most of its membership from neo-fascist groups, and became associated with street violence against immigrants. Although it was avowedly a cultural organisation the MAC soon developed close links with the country's white power skinhead movement. The violence culminated in the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of a Trotskyite activist for which a number of members were brought to trial in 1992 (although those sympathetic to the group claimed that the death had been as a result of a fight between Trotskyites and MAC supporters). Whilst this trial was on-going MAN officially disbanded but nonetheless the leaders of the group were brought to trial at the Portuguese Constitutional Court
Portuguese Constitutional Court
The Portuguese Constitutional Court is a special court, defined by the Portuguese Constitution as part of the judicial branch of the Portuguese political organization. Unlike the rest of the country's courts, the Constitutional Court has important characteristics, such as a special composition,...
for forming a group that espoused 'Fascist ideology
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
', which had been banned by the Constitution of Portugal
Constitution of Portugal
The first Portuguese Constitution was drafted in 1822. Several revolutions led to the constitutions of 1826 , 1838 , 1911 , 1933 , and 1976 ....
. The trial attracted much mainstream media attention as it was the first case that the Constitutional Court had heard publicly but ultimately it was unable to pass a judgement as the movement had already disbanded.
Pedro Grilo was ultimately jailed for 12 years for the murder, a stabbing of activist Jose Carvalho in Rua da Palma, although he escaped from prison after serving four months.
Although the group had officially ceased to exist, several members went on to join the National Alliance, which was formed in 1995. On its own this group made little impact, although in 1999 it was able to take control of the old Democratic Renovator Party and reconstitute it as the National Renewal Party