Maps / 38 weeks ago

António de Oliveira Salazar: The man who kept Portugal in a dictatorship for 41 years

António de Oliveira Salazar was a Portuguese politician and economist who served as the country's Prime Minister from 1932 to 1968. As the founder and leader of the Estado Novo (New State), he established an authoritarian and corporatist regime that governed Portugal from 1933 until its overthrow in 1974. Salazar's political career began in 1926 when he was appointed Minister of Finance under a military-led government. His reputation for financial prudence and economic stabilization earned him widespread recognition. In 1932, he ascended to the position of Prime Minister, solidifying his authority and shaping Portugal's political landscape for nearly four decades.