Dictatorship, deck chairs & dummy newspapers · Carl Munson's Portugal Club

Dictatorship, deck chairs & dummy newspapers

On this day in 1932, António de Oliveira Salazar was appointed President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister). While he had served as Finance Minister since 1928, this appointment solidified his role as the leader of Portugal.

How long did Salazar ultimately remain in power as the head of the Portuguese government?

---

Salazar's rule only ended after he suffered a brain hemorrhage (famously caused - allegedly - by falling from a deck chair). He was succeeded by Marcello Caetano, and the regime he built - the Estado Novo - lasted until the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974, celebrated this week.

Salazar was so 'influential' that for the first two years after his stroke, his aides reportedly staged fake cabinet meetings and gave him 'dummy' newspapers so he wouldn't realise he had been replaced in office.

A) 18 years

B) 24 years

C) 36 years

D) 42 years

4 votes

0 comments