Portugal started a revolution in 1968

Antonio Salazar and the
"Carnation Revolution" that put the dictatorship down

 Portugal had a different year in 1968, like most of the countries. But the reasons were completely different. Portugal is a unique country, as all we (Brazilians), know.

In 1968 the country completed 35 years of dictatorship behing Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. Despite all this time, there were no manifestations in the street against the government, no union movement, no protests. But a fall from a chair changed this scenario.

On August the 3rd, Salazar was at home and tried to sit in a chair. But he felt and his head was seriously injured. He expected three days to communicate about the ache he was feelling. The diagnosis was not favorable to the dictator: he had serious consequences of his fall and his brain suffered with the accident. Two days later, feeling worse, Salazar went into a hospital and was operated on September the 7th.


The surgery was not well succeeded and with the health very weak Salazar leaved for the first time in decades the command of Portugal -- to never get back. He and his doctors were not able to solve his health problems and he was replaced by Marcello Caetano. Two years later he died, in 1970.

Marcello Caetano tried to maintain the dictatorship, but was in vain. Salazar death was also the death of the regime. With problems in its colonies and social demands growing and growing, the country faced the "Carnation Revolution" in 1974, that resulted in the implantation of democracy -- who is still the regime until today.

So Portugal, in its unique way, started a revolution that changed the country forever. No shocks of students against the police, no "flower power", no union manifestations. It started in 1968, as in the whole planet. But with a fall from a chair...