Antonio de Oliveira Salazar Dictator of Portugal. Date of Birth: 28.04.1889 Country: Portugal

1. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar: Portugal's Dictator
2. Founding the Catholic Center Party
3. The National Union and the Estado Novo
4. Suppressing Independence Movements

Antonio de Oliveira Salazar: Portugal's Dictator

Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, born on April 28, 1889 in the village of Vimieiro near Santa Comba Dão, was a prominent figure in Portuguese history. He completed his education at a Jesuit school, followed by studying economics at the University of Coimbra. Salazar later became a professor of economics at the same university from 1916 to 1928.

Founding the Catholic Center Party

Salazar was one of the founders of the Catholic Center Party in 1918. However, in 1926, after a military coup, he was appointed as the Minister of Finance. Frustrated by his lack of freedom to act, Salazar resigned after just a few days and returned to his professorial duties in Coimbra. Two years later, President A. Carmona offered Salazar the position of Minister of Finance with extraordinary powers. Salazar skillfully managed the state budget, albeit by imposing excessive taxes on the country.

The National Union and the Estado Novo

In 1930, Salazar founded the National Union Party, advocating for a "unitary corporatist republic." In 1932, he became the Prime Minister and drafted a constitution that was approved by plebiscite the following year. This constitution declared the creation of the New State (Estado Novo), where almost all power was concentrated in Salazar's hands, supported by the National Union Party. During the Spanish Civil War, Salazar supported Francisco Franco and maintained Portugal's neutrality during World War II. However, he allowed the British to use the Azores for air and naval purposes. In 1949, Portugal joined NATO, followed by becoming a member of the United Nations in 1955.

Suppressing Independence Movements

In the 1960s, Salazar attempted to suppress independence movements in the Portuguese colonies in Africa. These wars significantly weakened Portugal and ultimately led to a military coup in 1975, which marked the end of the New State. In 1968, due to illness, Salazar retired from public life. He passed away in Lisbon on July 27, 1970.