Latest news and stories about estado novo in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Portuguese dictatorship, initially military between 1926 and 1932, and later civilian under the name Estado Novo, focused on repression and a process of political justice against its opponents. Opinion by Irene Flunser Pimentel.
An exploration of the societal and political shifts in Portugal following the 1974 Carnation Revolution, told through the perspectives of individuals who experienced life under the Estado Novo regime.
The new project from the archive collected by José Pacheco Pereira explores clandestine production during the Estado Novo regime and shows how newspapers and pamphlets were central instruments of political resistance.
António Ferro, a figure inextricably linked to Salazar as the chief propagandist of the Estado Novo for nearly two decades, is the subject of a new six-part narrative podcast from Diário de Notícias. Through the perspectives of historians, political scientists, and his granddaughter, novelist Rita Ferro, the series explores his complex legacy—from his modernist roots and involvement with the Orpheu magazine to his role in shaping Portuguese cultural identity, including the popularization of the Barcelos rooster. The podcast, narrated by Nuno Braga, examines the life of a man who was a journalist, diplomat, and cultural architect, leaving an indelible mark on 20th-century Portugal.
The Casa da Escrita hosts 'This book of wretched fabric – Censorship of literature during the Estado Novo', an exhibition based on material from the Ephemera Archive, by José Pacheco Pereira.
The exhibition “This book of wretched material” is the result of a partnership between the Coimbra City Council and the Ephemera Cultural Association, led by José Pacheco Pereira. Admission is free and the exhibition is open until the end of April.
Sophia de Mello Breyner and Francisco Sousa Tavares created a code that the PIDE secret police never discovered in the correspondence they exchanged while the lawyer was detained for opposing the Estado Novo regime, their son Miguel Sousa Tavares told Lusa. Beyond accompanying his mother on visits to Caxias prison, Miguel Sousa Tavares was tasked with helping her draft letters and 'translate' the messages sent by his father. The son recalled that they had invented a brilliant code to share political secrets within the resistance circle against the Estado Novo. Miguel Sousa Tavares swore to his mother that he would never reveal the enigma contained in the letters, which required a creative writing style to ensure the PIDE did not suspect a key was hidden within. The code was used whenever Francisco Sousa Tavares was imprisoned and able to communicate with his wife. Miguel Sousa Tavares, who was the only child entrusted with the secret, noted that the code was used during his father's detention related to the 'Ballet Rose' scandal in 1967, which also involved Urbano Tavares Rodrigues and Mário Soares.
Sophia de Mello Breyner and Francisco Sousa Tavares created a code that the PIDE never discovered in the correspondence they exchanged during the lawyer's detentions for opposing the Estado Novo, their son Miguel Sousa Tavares told Lusa.
The article details Portugal's transition to the 3rd Republic after 1974, highlighting the pivotal events of the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974. This military-led coup, carried out by the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA), ended the Estado Novo regime, which had maintained colonial control over African territories. The revolution was driven by discontent with prolonged colonial wars, economic struggles, and social unrest. Key figures included military officers like Salgueiro Maia and Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho. Following the coup, Portugal abolished its authoritarian regime, and the MFA, with Marxist influences, gained control over media, education, and land redistribution, especially in the Alentejo. The revolution marked the beginning of decolonization, with movements for independence emerging across African colonies such as Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea. Despite claims of economic hardship, colonial territories contributed significantly to Portugal's economy. The event is famously known as the “Revolução dos Cravos” (Carnation Revolution), symbolizing peaceful change and the end of authoritarian rule.
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Orlando Raimundo, a journalist and researcher specialising in Portugal's Estado Novo regime, has died.
The journalist and historian of the Estado Novo regime died aged 77 after a prolonged illness.
A former programmes director at RTP, founder of Televisão de Macau and director of the most censored film of the Estado Novo era, Catembe — which was subjected to 103 cuts by censors — died on Sunday aged 91.
In 2023 he was honoured by the Government with the Medal of Cultural Merit. He was 91 years old.
