Movimento Nacional-Sindicalista

The Movimento Nacional-Sindicalista ( National Syndicalist Movement ) was a fascist group in Portugal . In opposition to the authoritarian Salazar regime, the MNS invoked the ideology of national syndicalism .

history

The MNS was formed under the leadership of Francisco Rolão Preto in 1932. The movement, which was mainly supported by students, turned against the conservative orientation of the National Union of Prime Minister António de Oliveira Salazar and called for a national revolution . They invoked the anti-capitalist and anti-centralist idea of national syndicalism . In practice, however, the MNS oriented itself primarily towards the Italian fascists and maintained its own party militia with the "blue shirts".

In 1933 the MNS grew to 25,000 members, which meant that it even exceeded the National Union at times. The strongholds of the movement were Lisbon and Braga . When Prime Minister Salazar proclaimed the Estado Novo in 1933 , he intensified the repression against the National Syndicalists, and at the same time gave them hopes that they would participate in power should they distance themselves from their revolutionary positions. With this tactic Salazar split the MNS and finally announced its dissolution in July 1934. Francisco Rolão Preto initiated a revolt against the Estado Novo from underground, but this failed in September 1935 due to a lack of support from the military.

literature

• Stanley Payne: History of Fascism. The rise and fall of a European movement. London 1995.