Living through the ‘Carnation’ revolution By Paul Luckman, in News, Opinion · 23-04-2021 01:00:00 · 0 Comments
I came to live in Portugal in November 1973, just in time to experience first-hand the famous ‘Carnation’ revolution, so named as soldiers put carnations in the barrels of their rifles to indicate this was a peaceful movement.
This revolution is probably almost unique in recent world history, why, because the military took over, not unusual, but they kept their word (very unusual in world terms) and handed power back to the people exactly as promised.
25 April, 1974 is famous for toppling an authoritarian government and ending fascism in Portugal with barely any violence. That’s pretty unique by itself, but there was so much more. Characterised as an authoritarian government, it was a time of