The civilians struggle through

Abstract

Portugal had only one organised political force after the fall of Caetano: the Communist party. Organised in underground cells, often very small, spread throughout the country, it was in a position to take immediate advantage of the confusion and the vacuum of authority after the fall of Caetano. Many of its operations, particularly in the north, were carried out under the aegis of the Portuguese Democratic Movement (MDP) an alliance the Communists had formed, chiefly at local level, with various anti-Caetano opposition groups, including Socialists, left-wing Catholics, and centre Liberals. Local authorities throughout the country had enjoyed some autonomy from central control under Salazar and Caetano, and the MDP claimed the right to take the reins of local authority power from their unrepresentative incumbents.