ELECTION IN PORTUGAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 11

ELECTION IN PORTUGAL

Complete Victory For Salazar (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LISBON, November 8. Dr. Antonio Salazar’s Government party, the Uniaco National, won' a 100 per cent, victory in today’s General Election in Portugal. All the 28 Opposition candidates were defeated.

It was the first officially contested election since the Portuguese military uprising in 1926 brought > the present regime to power.

The Opposition candidates belong to the nameless Centre Group which, like the Government party, repudiates Communism, but desires a foothold in Parliament to voice its claims to prepare the 1957 elections.

The five Opposition candidates inude Admiral Jose Mendes Cabecadas,

who led the revolution which set up the present regime, but later became a dissident, and the former Prime Minister (Mr Francisco Pinto Da Cunha Leal), who made th» first speech ever given on the radio by an Opposition candidate. Mr Cunha Leal also headed a group of eight unofficial Opposition candidates, who unsuccessfully contested eight seats in November, 1949. A well-known Democrat, he was deported for political activities in 1930, released and then again expelled in 1935, but was allowed to return the following year. The polling was said to be the heaviest ever in a Portuguese General Election, but it was orderly and without incident.

Many women stood ifi the queues •which formed in brilliant sunshine outside Bolling stations throughout the morning*and part of the afternoon. All men over 21 are entitled to vote if they are literate, or if they pay minimum tax of 100 escudos (255), but women voters must possess certain educational qualifications, or pay the minimum tax of 100 escudos or be heads of households.