Vasco Gonçalves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vasco Gonçalves OA
Prime Minister of Portugal
In office 18 July 1974 – 19 September 1975
President	António de Spínola Francisco da Costa Gomes
Deputy	José Teixeira Ribeiro António Arnão Metello
Preceded by	Adelino da Palma Carlos
Succeeded by	José Pinheiro de Azevedo
Minister of Education and Culture
In office 29 November 1974 – 4 December 1974
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Vitorino Magalhães Godinho
Succeeded by	Manuel Rodrigues Carvalho
Personal details
Born	Vasco dos Santos Gonçalves (1921-05-03)3 May 1921 Lisbon, Portugal
Died	11 June 2005(2005-06-11) (aged 84) Almancil, Portugal
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Aida Rocha Afonso
Children	1 daughter and 1 son
Alma mater	Portuguese Military Academy
Profession	Army officer
Awards	Order of Aviz Order Playa Girón
Military service
Allegiance	Portugal
Branch/service	Portuguese Army
Years of service	1942–1975
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Portuguese Colonial War Armed Forces Movement Carnation Revolution

General Vasco dos Santos Gonçalves was a Portuguese army officer. He was born in Lisbon on May 3, 1921, and passed away on June 11, 2005. He played a big part in the Carnation Revolution, a peaceful change in Portugal. Later, he became the Prime Minister of Portugal, leading the country from July 18, 1974, to September 19, 1975.

Early Life and Military Career

Vasco dos Santos Gonçalves was born in Sintra, Portugal, on May 3, 1921. His father, Vítor Gonçalves, was a foreign exchange dealer. In 1942, Vasco graduated from the Portuguese military academy. He became an engineer in the Army Engineering Corps.

In 1950, he married Aida Rocha Afonso. They had a son named Vitor and a daughter named Maria João. As an officer, Gonçalves served in Portuguese Goa. He also spent time in the Portuguese overseas territories of Angola and Mozambique.

In 1973, Gonçalves joined the Armed Forces Movement. This group helped plan the overthrow of the Estado Novo regime. This regime had ruled Portugal for a long time.

Leading Portugal as Prime Minister

Gonçalves became Prime Minister of Portugal in 1974. His time as leader was a period of big changes and some challenges. He guided Portugal as it moved from a dictatorship to a democracy. This time was known as the Ongoing Revolutionary Process.

In early March 1975, some people tried to remove Gonçalves from power. This attempt by a right-wing group failed. After this, the Prime Minister made big changes to the economy. He took control of many important industries for the government.

These industries included banking, insurance, and oil companies. He also nationalized tobacco, cement, and wood pulp businesses. Other companies like iron and steel, breweries, and transport were also included. Even most radio and TV networks became government-owned.

A mural in support of Vasco Gonçalves.

In April 1975, the Socialist Party and its friends won many seats in the assembly. They did not agree with Gonçalves. They said he was too extreme in his left-wing views. They started protests against his government.

On August 18, Gonçalves gave a strong speech against his political rivals. Two weeks later, the country faced a risk of civil war. Because of this, President Francisco da Costa Gomes removed Gonçalves from his position.

Many people on the radical left in Portugal were upset by Gonçalves's removal. The Portuguese Workers' Communist Party organized large protests in Lisbon in September 1975.

Later Life and Legacy

After he was no longer Prime Minister, Gonçalves left politics. He sometimes attended events to support left-wing movements. His last public appearance was in 2004. He was at an event with Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso.

Vasco Gonçalves always remained an independent person. However, he believed in the ideas of Marxism.

Vasco dos Santos Gonçalves passed away on June 11, 2005. He was 84 years old. He drowned in his brother's swimming pool due to heart problems.

See also

In Spanish: Vasco Gonçalves para niños