The Military Coup in Portugal and It's Impact on the Internal Situation (1974-1976)

The military coup in Lisbon in April 1974 occurred as a result of political turmoil in the country and strong criticism of the Portuguese government's policy in Africa. The coup put an end to four decades of dictatorship (1926-1974) in the midst of the Cold War, a severe oil crisis, and simultaneous processes of decolonization in Africa. The military coup was faced with a counter-coup by elements of low-ranking army officers on November 25, 1975, supported by extremist Portuguese leftist elements who wanted to control the government in favor of the communists. However, this coup failed, which directly affected the internal situation in Portugal. So, dialogue with enemies were held. A joint effort between the military and civilians to develop a constitution for the country that guarantees freedom and pluralism. Aims: The study aimed to shed light on the internal political events in Portugal during the Cold War and the dispute that occurred between Portuguese political groups, which led to several coups, disturbances, and demonstrations during the research period. Methodology: The study adopted the descriptive historical approach, which monitored historical events in order to determine the real reasons and developments that led to the coup. Results: After analyzing the gathered data, the study showed that the military coup in 1974 was an important event in Portugal, as it was considered a transition between the republic and the dictatorship. It also created a political, military and social crisis and generated a division in the armed forces movement between the moderate right and the extreme left and the coup leaders tried to seize power but failed. Conclusion: The study concluded that the military coup failed to achieve its goals, which prompted the military and civilians to work to draft a new constitution for the country that guarantees a pluralistic liberal democracy.