National Salvation Junta
The National Salvation Junta was a group of military officers designated to maintain the government of Portugal in April 1974 after the Carnation Revolution had overthrown the Estado Novo dictatorial regime. This junta assumed power on the same day of the revolution. The National Salvation Junta was the de jure governing body of Portugal following the Carnation Revolution. It was replaced by the Revolutionary Council on March 14, 1975 following the 11 [March 1975 coup attempt|coup attempt by president Spínola] on March 11.
Purpose
The Junta was a pre-planned part of the national reform program envisioned by the Movimento das Forças Armadas, which aimed to exercise political power after the revolution and prior to the formation of a civilian government in order to prevent the collapse of the Presidency of the Republic and of the government. It entailed the dissolution of the National Assembly and of the Council of State. The Constitutional Law 1/74 of 25 April 1974 was promulgated in order to set this process in motion. The Junta assumed upon itself the power to choose the president and vice president.On an interim basis, the Junta also exercised the functions of the Presidency of the Republic and of President of the Council.
Members
The Junta was composed of:- General António Ribeiro de Spínola,
- General Francisco da Costa Gomes,
- Brigadier Jaime Silvério Marques,
- General Diogo Neto,
- Colonel Carlos Galvão de Melo,
- Naval Captain José Baptista Pinheiro de Azevedo,
- Naval Commander António Alva Rosa Coutinho.
- General Francisco da Costa Gomes,
- Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Alberto Idães Soares Fabião.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Nuno Fisher Lopes Pires.
- Vice-Admiral José Pinheiro de Azevedo.
- Naval Captain Silvano Alves Ribeiro, during the absence of Naval Commander António Rosa Coutinho, who was appointed the governor of Portuguese Angola.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Narciso Mendes Dias,
- Lieutenant-Colonel Aníbal Pinho Freire.