“Portugal and the Future"

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 16

“Portugal and the Future"

The immediate reason for the resignation of the Portuguese President, General Spinola, was the loss of prestige he suffered when a rally of his supporters was cancelled. He had called the rally to demonstrate his political support from those who have been dubbed the “silent majority”. The General expected that it would give him greater authority to direct the affairs of Portugal in the way he wanted. But political groups on the Left, and the Army, considered that the rally would be provocative and might lead to fighting. Civilians and soldiers set up roadblocks to search for arms being taken to the rally. To avoid conflict, General Spinola stopped the rally: and he lost his chance to show that he was not merely an appointed President but a popular leader. The conflict which led eventually to the General’s resignation began long before the rally. General Spinola’s book, “ Portugal and the Future ”, which advocated a political solution to the problems of Portugal’s African colonies, gave the impetus to the April coup in Portugal. But the General moved more slowly than those who put him in power would have liked. He granted independence to Guinea-Bissau, and allowed the Frelimo movement to share power in Mozambique before independence next June, but he made it clear that he thought the pace of these changes was too fast. Within Portugal, reform has been slowed and there is some uncertainty about when the elections, promised by the Army, will be held. Now General Costa Gomes, who was” once General Spinola’s superior officer and political supporter, has succeeded him as President. When he resigned, General Spinola said that *' revolutionary structures ” were being planned for Portugal and his own loyalty to the ideals of freedom and democracy prevented him from having anything to do with them. He has also said that he feared totalitarianism would emerge. General Spinola’s conservatism makes him suspicious of political changes that may be inspired by the Communists. “ The Times ”, of London, reported several weeks ago that Russian money was being used to take control of local body affairs in Portugal. While the resignation of General Spinola and the dismissal of his supporters in the junta may be seen as a victory for the Left, it is unlikely that the junior officers who conducted the coup in April would be prepared to exchange the repression of the Right, which has lasted for 40 years, for a Government of repression from the Left Behind the resignation of General Spinola is the question of political power in Portugal. A junta of officers, in theory, still has authority over the Provisional Government. But the Armed Forces Movement, composed of the junior officers who made the coup, appears to retain a power of veto over the junta’s behaviour. The Army seems closer to the civilian politicians of the Left, but if the “ silent “ majority ” exists, the forces of the political Right may be numerically stronger. The question of political power will not be resolved quickly and General Spinola’s resignation may have done little to diminish the contest