Capital Lisbon Government Military dictatorship 1930–1932 Domingos Oliveira Founded 1926 | Languages Portuguese 1926–1933 Óscar Carmona Historical era Interwar period | |
The Ditadura Nacional ([ditɐˈðuɾɐ nɐsiuˈnaɫ], National Dictatorship) was the name of the Portuguese regime that started in 1928 after re-election of General Óscar Carmona to the post of President.
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The preceding military dictatorship period that started after the 28th May 1926 coup d'état, is known as Ditadura Militar (Military Dictatorship). After adopting a new constitution in 1933, the regime changed its name to Estado Novo (New State).
It is considered that the Ditadura Nacional, together with the Estado Novo, forms the historical period of the Portuguese Second Republic (1926-1974).
Ditadura Militar, 1926-1928
The military coup of May 28 easily seized power. Soon afterward, the dictatorship dissolved parliament, banned all political parties and instituted censorship. This process was plagued by instability as hardline military officers purged liberals and democrats from the institutions of the Republic. During this time no one clear leader emerged, as the dictatorship was led by a coalition of lower-rank military officers, some of whom are Integralists.
After the republican Prime minister and President of the Republic resigned on May 30, naval officer José Mendes Cabeçadas Júnior assumes both posts, but after conflicts with other coup leaders, he is forced to resign on June 17. He is replaced by General Gomes da Costa, who assumed the posts of both Prime minister and President of the Republic. Gomes da Costa was not devoted to the cause of establishing a permanent military dictatorship and, because of these feelings, was forced out on July 9 by General António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona who assumed both of the highest offices of the state. Carmona continues as Prime minister until April 18, 1928 but retains the post of President of the Republic until his death on April 18, 1951. In 1927 there were several failed coup attempts from both left and right wing movements. On August 12, 1927 junior officers barged into a cabinet meeting and start shooting. The Carmona government regains control of the government and imposes stronger military discipline, however, the attackers were not severely punished and were sent to posts in Portuguese Angola.
Ditadura Nacional, 1928-1933
On March 25, 1928 Carmona organized a Presidential election and is elected to a five-year term. On April 18 he appointed José Vicente de Freitas as the new Prime minister. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was appointed Minister of Finances. The conflicts between the military officers and the National Catholic wing represented by Salazar increase to a point where the entire Freitas government resigned on July 8, 1929 and only Salazar keeps his ministerial post in the new cabinet of Artur Ivens Ferraz. Salazar's influence begins to grow at the expense of military officers who begin to lose their political power. After a conflict with Salazar in 1930 Ferraz was replaced by General Domingos Oliveira who allowed Salazar to play ever increasing role in the nation's finances and politics.
By 1930 military dictatorship had stabilized Portugal and the national leadership and state functionaries began to think about the future. The overarching question was "In what form was the dictatorship to continue?". The answer was provided by Salazar, who became Prime minister on July 5, 1932 and in 1933 instituted the Estado Novo regime.