Goncalves, Vasco dos Santos

▪ 2006

      Portuguese military officer (b. May 3, 1921, Lisbon, Port.—d. June 11, 2005, Almancil, Port.), was a key figure in the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), which overthrew Portuguese Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano in the Revolution of the Carnations (1974), ending almost 50 years of right-wing dictatorship. Gonçalves served as prime minister of four provisional administrations from 1974 to 1975, but his national influence during that period far exceeded his official status. Under his guidance, banks and insurance companies were nationalized, paid holidays and a minimum wage were established, and most Portuguese colonies were granted independence. In April 1975 Portugal held its first free elections, with a record 91.7% of registered voters going to the polls. The radical Portuguese Communist Party, led by Álvaro Cunhal (Cunhal, Alvaro Barreirinhas ) (q.v.), was soundly defeated by the more moderate Socialist Party, however, and in August Gonçalves resigned from office.

* * *