Portugal For First Time For 22 Years Has Choice of Presidents

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22868, 11 February 1949, Page 2

Portugal For First Time For 22 Years Has Choice of Presidents

(From Reuter’s Correspondent.) LISBON (By Air Mail). Campaigning is now well under way for Portugal’s presidential election on February 13, the first for 22 years in which there are two candidates. The Prime Minister, Dr. A. Salazar, declared on January 7 that the election would be "not a mere choice between two candidates, but a choice between two regimes.” Newspapers reflecting the significance of his words are urging “the retention of the present system regardless of their political leanings.” Election Candidates Candidates in this election are 79-year-old Marshal Antonia Oscar Carmona for the Government Party (Unia National), who has been President of the Portuguese Republic since 1926, and General Luis Norton de Matos, aged 81, for the Opposition. Under Marshal Carmona’s presidency and with Dr. Salazar as Minister of Finance since 1928 and Prime Minister since 1932, Portugal has known an era of undeniable order and development contrasting with the previous 16 years of revolution, financial chaos and disorder. Stability was, however, attained with the curtailment of liberty of the press, formation of political parties and the holding of free elections. Restrictions Relaxed The Government, in denying the reinstatement of these liberties, claimed that such freedom led Portugal to ruined finances and disorder before the present regime. But it should be said that the present regime, in recent years, has relaxed considerably and increasing freedom has been enjoyed by political opponents. The crucial point today is that the Opposition demands full democratic liberties for the present electioneering campaign and elections, whereas the Government has decided to grant “sufficient” liberty for the electoral campaign, but “without prejudice to the work, tranquility and discipline of the nation, which it is the duty of the Government to ensure and preserve,” according to Dr. Salazar. General de Matos was Minister of War from 1915 to 1917 and Portuguese Ambassador in London from 1923 to 1926.