Salgado Zenha
Encyclopedia
Francisco Salgado Zenha, GCL
(May 2, 1923, Braga
– November 1, 1993, Lisbon
) was a Portuguese left-wing politician and lawyer.
As a student at the University of Coimbra, he was elected president of the Academic Association of Coimbra
, being dismissed some months after because he refused to participate in a demonstration of support to the Estado Novo
regime. Some time after, in 1945, he became one of the founders of the youth wing of the Movement of Democratic Unity (Portuguese: Movimento de Unidade Democrática – Juvenil or "MUD-J"), a movement that congregated almost all the opposition movements to the Portuguese Fascist regime. His "subversive" actions lead him to prison for several times.
Later, he supported the presidential candidacy of Norton de Matos, and it was at this time that he met Mário Soares
. Some years after he supported another democratic candidate to the manipulated elections, Humberto Delgado
. After that he joined several Socialist movements, and in 1973, he was among the founders of the Socialist Party
. As an anti-fascist he became notable for defending in court many people accused of anti-fascist and anti-colonialist activities.
After the Carnation Revolution
, he was Minister of Justice in the first, second, third and fourth provisional governments and Minister of Finance in the fifth. He was member of the commission that made the review of the judiciary composition with the Holy See
that, for example, legalized divorce in Portugal. Between 1974 and 1982 he was member of the direction of the Socialist Party and member of its Parliamentary Group.
In 1980 he started a dissidence with his old friend Mário Soares because the Party's support to Ramalho Eanes in the presidential election.
In 1986 he was a presidential candidate supported by the Portuguese Communist Party
and the Democratic Renovator Party
, but even supported by these two parties he failed to reach the second round and thereafter virtually left the Portuguese political scene.
He died on November 1, 1993.
Order of Liberty
The Order of Liberty, or Freedom, is a Portuguese honorific civil order that distinguishes relevant services to the cause of democracy and freedom, in the defense of the values of civilization and human dignification...
(May 2, 1923, Braga
Braga
Braga , a city in the Braga Municipality in northwestern Portugal, is the capital of the Braga District, the oldest archdiocese and the third major city of the country. Braga is the oldest Portuguese city and one of the oldest Christian cities in the World...
– November 1, 1993, Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
) was a Portuguese left-wing politician and lawyer.
As a student at the University of Coimbra, he was elected president of the Academic Association of Coimbra
Associação Académica de Coimbra
The Coimbra Academic Association is the students' union of the University of Coimbra . Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal...
, being dismissed some months after because he refused to participate in a demonstration of support to the Estado Novo
Estado Novo
There have been two regimes known as Estado Novo :*Estado Novo , the period from 1937 to 1945, under the leadership of Getúlio Vargas...
regime. Some time after, in 1945, he became one of the founders of the youth wing of the Movement of Democratic Unity (Portuguese: Movimento de Unidade Democrática – Juvenil or "MUD-J"), a movement that congregated almost all the opposition movements to the Portuguese Fascist regime. His "subversive" actions lead him to prison for several times.
Later, he supported the presidential candidacy of Norton de Matos, and it was at this time that he met Mário Soares
Mário Soares
Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares, GColTE, GCC, GColL, KE , Portuguese politician, served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently as the 17th President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996.-Family:...
. Some years after he supported another democratic candidate to the manipulated elections, Humberto Delgado
Humberto Delgado
Humberto da Silva Delgado, GCL was a General of the Portuguese Air Force and politician.Delgado was born in Brogueira, Torres Novas. He was the son of Joaquim Delgado and wife Maria do Ó Pereira and had three younger sisters, Deolinda, Aida and Lídia....
. After that he joined several Socialist movements, and in 1973, he was among the founders of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Portugal)
The Socialist Party , abbreviated to PS, is a social-democratic political party in Portugal. It was founded on 19 April 1973 in the German city of Bad Münstereifel, by militants from Portuguese Socialist Action ....
. As an anti-fascist he became notable for defending in court many people accused of anti-fascist and anti-colonialist activities.
After the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
, he was Minister of Justice in the first, second, third and fourth provisional governments and Minister of Finance in the fifth. He was member of the commission that made the review of the judiciary composition with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
that, for example, legalized divorce in Portugal. Between 1974 and 1982 he was member of the direction of the Socialist Party and member of its Parliamentary Group.
In 1980 he started a dissidence with his old friend Mário Soares because the Party's support to Ramalho Eanes in the presidential election.
In 1986 he was a presidential candidate supported by the Portuguese Communist Party
Portuguese Communist Party
The Portuguese Communist Party is a major left-wing political party in Portugal. It is a Marxist-Leninist party, and its organization is based upon democratic centralism. The party also considers itself to be patriotic and internationalist....
and the Democratic Renovator Party
Democratic Renovator Party
The Democratic Renewal Party was a Portuguese political party, founded in 1985 with the political support of the until-then-independent President of the Republic, Ramalho Eanes. At the time of its foundation, it was meant to "moralize Portuguese political life" and the party positioned itself in...
, but even supported by these two parties he failed to reach the second round and thereafter virtually left the Portuguese political scene.
He died on November 1, 1993.