Profile


A military coup in 1974 brought four decades of dictatorial control in Portugal to an end, and in 1975 large part of the economy was nationalised and Portugal's colonies in Africa were granted independence. The following year the first free elections were held opening the door to political and virtually economic changes in the most southeasterly country of Continental Europe.

Ten years of minority and coalition governments followed and it was not until 1987 that Portugal had its first majority government, which the Social Democrat Party under Anibal Cavacco Silva gaining just over fifty percent of the votes allowing for modest but clear steps to be taken allowing Portugal economically with its European neighbours. European Union membership has further fostered economic opportunity and development possibilities allowing Portugal to evolve more or less rapidly advancing the welfare of the country.