National Salvation Junta
Encyclopedia
The National Salvation Junta (Junta de Salvação Nacional, ˈʒũtɐ dɨ saɫvɐˈsɐ̃w̃ nɐsiuˈnaɫ) was a group of military officers designated to maintain the government of Portugal
in April 1974, after the Carnation Revolution
had overthrown the Estado Novo dictatorial regime. This junta functioned between 1974 and 1976, following a communiqué of its president, António de Spínola
, at 1:30 a.m. on 26 April 1974.
The Junta was a pre-planned part of the programme of the Movimento das Forças Armadas
(Movement of the Armed Forces; MFA), which aimed to exercise political power before the formation of a civilian government in order to prevent the immediate collapse of the Presidency of the Republic
(then held by Rear-Admiral Américo Thomaz
) and of the government, along with the dissolution of the National Assembly
and of the Council of State. Constitutional Law 1/74 of 25 April was promulgated in order to set this process in motion. The choice of President and Vice-President remained with the Junta itself.
The Junta was composed of:
On an interim basis, the Junta also exercised the functions of the Presidency of the Republic
(from 26 April to 15 May, when it designated as Head of State the president of the Junta, António de Spínola) and of President of the Council (from 26 April to 16 May, when the First Provisional Government of Portugal, which was chosen by the MFA, took power, headed by Adelino da Palma Carlos
).
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...
in April 1974, after the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
had overthrown the Estado Novo dictatorial regime. This junta functioned between 1974 and 1976, following a communiqué of its president, António de Spínola
António de Spínola
António Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola , GCTE, ComA was a Portuguese soldier, conservative politician and author, who was important in the transition to democracy following the Portuguese Carnation...
, at 1:30 a.m. on 26 April 1974.
The Junta was a pre-planned part of the programme of the Movimento das Forças Armadas
Movimento das Forças Armadas
The Movement of the Armed Forces was an organisation of lower-ranked left-leaning officers in the Portuguese Armed Forces which was responsible for the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974, a military coup in Lisbon which ended the corporatist New State regime in Portugal, the Portuguese...
(Movement of the Armed Forces; MFA), which aimed to exercise political power before the formation of a civilian government in order to prevent the immediate collapse of the Presidency of the Republic
President of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
(then held by Rear-Admiral Américo Thomaz
Américo Thomaz
Américo de Deus Rodrigues Tomás, GCC, GOA, GOSE , archaic spelling: Américo Thomaz, was a Portuguese admiral and politician.-Career:Tomás became minister of the Navy in 1944...
) and of the government, along with the dissolution of the National Assembly
Assembly of the Republic
The Assembly of the Republic is the Portuguese parliament. It is located in a historical building in Lisbon, referred to as Palácio de São Bento, the site of an old Benedictine monastery...
and of the Council of State. Constitutional Law 1/74 of 25 April was promulgated in order to set this process in motion. The choice of President and Vice-President remained with the Junta itself.
The Junta was composed of:
- General António Ribeiro de SpínolaAntónio de SpínolaAntónio Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola , GCTE, ComA was a Portuguese soldier, conservative politician and author, who was important in the transition to democracy following the Portuguese Carnation...
(president) - General Francisco da Costa GomesFrancisco da Costa GomesFrancisco da Costa Gomes, ComTE, GOA |Chaves]], 30 June 1914 – Lisbon, Lapa, 31 July 2001), was a Portuguese military officer and politician, the 15th President of the Portuguese Republic .-Life:...
- Brigadier General Jaime Silvério Marques (ArmyPortuguese ArmyThe Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
), - General Diogo Neto (absent in Mozambique),
- Colonel Carlos Galvão de MeloCarlos Galvão de MeloCarlos Galvão de Melo was a Portuguese military officer from the Portuguese Air Force....
(Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
), - Naval Captain José Pinheiro de Azevedo,
- Naval Commander António Rosa Coutinho (NavyPortuguese NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal....
).
On an interim basis, the Junta also exercised the functions of the Presidency of the Republic
President of Portugal
Portugal has been a republic since 1910, and since that time the head of state has been the president, whose official title is President of the Portuguese Republic ....
(from 26 April to 15 May, when it designated as Head of State the president of the Junta, António de Spínola) and of President of the Council (from 26 April to 16 May, when the First Provisional Government of Portugal, which was chosen by the MFA, took power, headed by Adelino da Palma Carlos
Adelino da Palma Carlos
Adelino da Palma Carlos, GCC, GCIH, GOL , was a Portuguese lawyer, scholar, politician and a freemason, one of at least five sons of Manuel Carlos and wife Auta Vaz Velho da Palma...
).