“Flower revolutions” basically imply a non-violent, peaceful removal of the country's leadership from power. They are carried out through public mass protests of the society. These revolutions are a phenomenon of post-Soviet reality.
General information
History knows several similar removals of rulers from power. In 2003, as a result of street protests, E. Shevardnadze was forced out, replaced by the now infamous M. Saakashvili. This peaceful coup was called the "Rose Revolution".
In February and March 2005, in the former Soviet Kyrgyzstan, after the regular parliamentary elections, there was an explosion of popular discontent. The situation in the country deteriorated sharply, which led to the displacement of the ruling regime. This revolution was called "tulip". In the same 2005, mass actions were held in Lebanon. The public demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from the territory of their country. By analogy with the flower revolutions that took place in the countries of the post-Soviet space, these actions went down in history as the "Revolution of the Cedar Trees".
However, the very first country in which there was a bloodless coup,named after the flower, became Portugal. In April 1974, there was a regime change in Lisbon from a fascist dictatorship to a liberal democratic type of government. This two-day political coup was named after the carnation. The symbol of the revolution - there is a flower in Egypt (lotus), and in Tunisia (jasmine), and in Mexico (cactus), and in Belarus (cornflower). The appearance of such floral images is due to several reasons. Firstly, any country has its own symbolism - a flower or a plant characteristic of it, and secondly, thanks to this, the revolution receives a certain ideology. This article will focus on the carnation, because it was the choice of the oppositionists who undertook a bloodless coup.
Name Explanation
According to legend, when soldiers were marching through the streets of Lisbon on April 25, 1974, an ordinary department store saleswoman named Celeste Seiros ran up to one of them and lowered a red carnation into the muzzle of his rifle. This unexpected gesture was noticed by the townspeople. They also began to present flowers to the soldiers of the officer corps "Movement of Captains". This is how the process of overthrowing the regime of the new state was called the "Carnation Revolution".
Reasons for the coup
The "Carnation Revolution" in Portugal (1974) did not come out of nowhere. In the early seventies of the last century, this country was perhaps the poorest in all of Europe. It had perhaps the worst standard of living of the population throughout the Old World. regime in powerthe new state turned Portugal into a completely agrarian country, which, despite its vast natural resources, nevertheless continued to impoverish. The policy of Marcel Caetan and António Salazar in five decades has completely turned it into one of the most backward states. In agriculture, the level of mechanization was reduced to a minimum, and food production did not actually increase. The population of the villages itself was not only terribly poor, but also illiterate.
Background
The "Carnation Revolution" was the last upheaval in Western Europe. Being a colonial power, Portugal, literally "sitting" on Angolan oil, did not process it. Therefore, when the Arab countries in Europe announced an oil embargo, she, like all the states of the Old World, was also left without gasoline. But even the export of raw materials, which helped the country barely make ends meet, was soon under threat: most of the African colonies began to fight for their independence. At that time, huge amounts of money were spent on the war. In addition, a real “flight” of capital began from Portugal. So that the people of the country do not worry, Prime Minister Marcelo Caetano decided to simply ban the publication of disappointing data. Desertion began to flourish in the country, protests and strikes were organized everywhere. To top it off, emigration from Portugal has grown enormously.
However, the unchanging political system of this country did not at all reflect the moods and views of society. Moreover, shecarefully isolated the population from any control levers. Under such conditions, the radical ideas of Hitler's Nazism and the theories of Mao Zedong began to spread secretly or semi-legally in Portugal. At the same time, Marxism began to penetrate into the traditional support of the ruling regime - the state officer corps. Most of these military men were humiliated by the personnel and social policy of the government.
Captains' Movement
The "Red Carnation Revolution" was carried out under the leadership of this organization. The "Movement of Captains" included the middle rank of the officer corps, dissatisfied with the regime existing in the country. As early as March 15, 1974, riots began to be carried out in Lisbon, which almost escalated into repression. However, the "Movement of Captains" managed to pacify the excited junior officers in order to more carefully prepare the uprising, which later went down in history as the "Carnation Revolution".
Start operation
At the disposal of the organizers of the government coup were the school of military administrators, the engineering, infantry and light artillery regiment, the Kazadorish battalion, the employees of the shooting range, the artillery training center, the 10th group of commandos, three paramilitary schools of various profiles located in around Lisbon, as well as a cavalry unit (armored vehicles) in Santarem and a "special operations" center. By April 22, all units loyal to the revolution were fully prepared for action. At the head of the opposition was the "Movement of Captains". Startthe operation had to be confirmed by two signals.
When on the twenty-fourth of April at 22:50 the central radio station announced that Lisbon time was 22:55, followed by Paulo di Carvalho's performance of the song "After Farewell", the opposition received "readiness number one". And between midnight and one in the morning on April 25, the announcer of the radio station "Renashensa", who read out the first stanza from the single "Grandula, vila morena", and then the work itself, performed by Jose Afonso - its author, marked the beginning of the military operation. From that moment on, the revolution became irreversible.
Two-day Carnation Revolution
Armored columns moved from Tomar, Santarena, Vendes Novas, Figueira da Foz, Mafra, Viseu, as well as from the naval base to Lisbon, which entered the capital around four in the morning. The largest radio station in the country, the Portuguese Radio Club, which has the most powerful transmitter, was immediately captured. From early morning, messages from the revolutionaries and songs began to be broadcast on the air, which the government of Caetan forbade. The inspired inhabitants of Lisbon poured into the streets, treated the soldiers, sang, shouted slogans. It was then, according to legend, that the first red carnations appeared, which the townspeople distributed to revolutionary soldiers. At four o'clock in the afternoon, Captain Maya went to the barracks to negotiate with the overthrown regime. The Prime Minister during the meeting asked for decent treatment. He expressed a desire to transfer power to di Spinola. Some time later the barrackscapitulated. However, the supporters of Marcelo Caetano, including two ministers - the interior and foreign affairs - remained with him until the final transfer of power to di Spinola and the issuance of a decree. The disgraced prime minister, who fled to Madeira, received political asylum in Brazil a month later.
The last revolution in Western Europe
The coup in Portugal in 1974 claimed the lives of four people. Several dozen people were injured. However, in the annals of history, the "Carnation Revolution" entered as bloodless. As a result, freedom of speech was proclaimed in the country, an amnesty was issued for all political prisoners, and the independence of the judiciary was declared. Society was completely embraced by revolutionary enthusiasm. University students refused to take exams, workers attempted to seize enterprises, they went on strike, demanding higher wages. On May 15, 1974, an interim government was formed. And as a result of elections held soon after, the socialists who received the majority of votes granted independence to all African colonies of Portugal.
Interesting facts
The announcer of the radio station "Renashensa" with a slight delay read out the first stanza from the single "Grandula, Vila Morena". This song became the anthem of the Carnation Revolution. In honor of this event, the largest bridge in Lisbon, bearing the name of Salazar, was renamed in honor of April 25th. The Day the Carnation Revolution Happened 1974year, in Portugal has become the main holiday, accompanied by celebrations and fun.
