TE19 Iberian Adventure

John Hartley

Novo - a Catholic, family-orientated nationalism.”

“He kept Portugal neutral during the War.” Grandad reflected, “He purged the Nazi sympathisers. He was a vocal critic of Hitler. Although he avoided the evils of his infamous contemporaries but will forever be tainted by the same brush.” “Salazar re‐catholicized the country after decades of republican and liberal secularisation, he disdained both fascism and communism ‘the grand heresy of our age’.” Vitorino added, “He disdained globalisation and the giant corporations - Coca-Cola, was banned.” “God, family, nation,” Vitorino recited the motto his generation knewby heart. “Teachyourchildren towork, teachyourdaughters modesty, and if not make them saints, at least make them Christians.”

“To César what belongs to Caesar,” Grandad nodded, “to God what belongs to God.”

“Salazar loved our nation until the end,” Maria commented, “he genuinely cared about the poor.”

“But he was certainly no saint,” Judy added, referring to the vast network of secret police and paid informers.”

“Was it so different to a monarchy,” Grandad mused, “so different from the King João V’s absolutism?”

“Anyway, isn’t thebenevolentdictator thebest formgovernment?” 162