In a conversation with The Sunday Guardian, Portugal’s ambassador to India, João Manuel Mendes Ribeiro de Almeida, shares a personal reflection on the country’s revolutionary era. Recalling his youth, he describes the contagious joy within his family, despite their political differences. Through his words, Ambassador Almeida dispels the misconception that only leftists opposed the dictatorship, highlighting a collective yearning for change.
Fifty years ago, on a bright spring morning in 1974, Portugal witnessed a revolution that would reshape its future and redefine its place in the world. The Carnation Revolution, as it came to be known, was not just a coup against a longstanding dictatorship but a beautiful, almost poetic, moment of national transformation. This peaceful revolution, characterized by the absence of bloodshed and the presence of red carnations in soldiers’ rifles, marked the dawn of a new era for Portugal, leading to democratization, decolonization, and development.
Reflecting on this pivotal moment, João Manuel Mendes Ribeiro de Almeida, the ambassador of Portugal to India, sheds light on the personal and political ramifications of the revolution in an exclusive conversation with The Sunday Guardian. “I was quite young at that time,” the ambassador recalls, “I only remember the contagious joy of my family, especially on my mother’s side, as my father’s family was more conservative. However, they also fought against the dictatorship. In Portugal, everyone fought against the dictatorship.” This personal anecdote underscores the widespread dissatisfaction with the regime that spanned across political spectrums, dispelling the myth that only leftists opposed the dictatorship.
The Estado Novo, Portugal’s authoritarian regime, held power from 1926 to 1974, making it the longest dictatorship in Europe. By 1974, widespread discontent had permeated the nation. The ambassador explains, “Everyone was fed up with the situation. Young military officers, captains, and majors, decided to act. They did it well, in my opinion. The dictatorship also collapsed under its own weight, like a rotten fruit falling. They seized the moment and executed a beautiful revolution.” This vivid metaphor captures the inevitable demise of the oppressive regime and the proactive stance of the military officers who orchestrated the coup.
The Carnation Revolution was notable not only for its success but for its minimal violence. Ambassador Ribeiro de Almeida describes it as the “Last Romantic Revolution.” As opposed to a bloody revolution, there were only a few casualties. “They placed red carnations in the barrels of the soldiers’ rifles, symbolizing a peaceful revolution. This imagery of flowers in gun barrels became a powerful symbol of the revolution, representing hope, peace, and the collective will of the Portuguese people,” the ambassador recollects.
On April 25, 1974, news of military movements in Lisbon spread rapidly. Strategic locations, including the international airport and Ministerial Square, were taken over by military forces. Initially, the objectives of the rebels were unclear, but the ambassador recalls, “The news traveled fast, throughout democratic Europe and other parts of the world, like India. The protagonists of our revolution started receiving messages of encouragement and support from practically every country that was historically a democracy and lived in freedom.”
The revolution was a significant moment of international solidarity and celebration. “The joy felt on the streets in the following days was overwhelming,” the ambassador notes. This joy was especially palpable on May 1, International Workers’ Day, when millions of Portuguese citizens celebrated without the fear of repression for the first time in years. The ambassador emphasizes, “That day was the first of a long period of democratization and normalization for a much traumatized country that had been left outside the club of civilized, democratic, and progressive nations.”
The Carnation Revolution also marked the beginning of Portugal’s journey towards democratization, decolonization, and development, known as the “3 Ds.” The government was handed over to a “Conselho da Revolução” (Council of the Revolution), which promised to implement these principles through an ambitious political timetable. One year later, on April 25, 1975, free elections were held, and a new constitution was designed to reflect the values and aspirations of the Portuguese people.
This period of transformation was not without its challenges. After a long, sometimes painful process, Portugal managed to overcome the arduous challenge of democratization. Until 1974, Portugal was a member of the United Nations and the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), but not the European Union (EU). “We were not allowed to enter the EU as the first requisite was to be a democracy. We built our democracy between 1974 and 1976, establishing a constitution with democratic values, tolerance, and respect for others’ opinions. It was a social revolution with trade unions and the people. A new Portugal was thus born, ending the old cycle. We also started the process of granting independence to our colonies in Africa, like Mozambique, Angola, Guinea, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe. The process with Macau followed,” the ambassador explains. By January 1986, Portugal’s democracy was recognized as mature enough to join the European Union.
The revolution also had profound implications for Portugal’s foreign relations with India.
The ambassador recollects, “Under the dictatorship, Portugal had strained or severed diplomatic ties with many countries, including India. The 1961 episode involving the liberation of Goa had strained relations between India and Portugal. Between 1961 and 1974, we did not have formal diplomatic relations. India interrupted relations with us.”
However, the Carnation Revolution paved the way for normalization and strengthened bilateral relations. “Shortly after, we normalized relations and became good friends and partners with India. This normalization was facilitated by the passage of time and the shift from a political to a cultural presence in Goa. The shared heritage between Portugal and Goa remains a point of pride, symbolizing the Indo-Portuguese influence that continues to shape cultural exchanges and partnerships,” the ambassador rejoices.
The Carnation Revolution stands as a pivotal moment in Portuguese history, symbolizing the triumph of democracy over dictatorship and the restoration of international relations grounded in mutual respect and shared values. The ambassador’s reflections highlight the importance of the Carnation Revolution in shaping modern Portugal and its international relationships. “If it weren’t for the Carnation Revolution, we couldn’t have a diplomatic mission in India in the first place,” Ambassador Ribeiro de Almeida sums up.
The upcoming 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations between Portugal and India in 2025 will be a moment to celebrate this enduring partnership and the democratic values that underpin it.