Lisbon, Portugal
TV viewers in Portugal have touched off a national identity crisis by voting for their former dictator as the “greatest Portuguese of all time.” António de Oliveira Salazar brought stability to Portugal when he took power in a 1926 coup, but he also created a police state that tortured dissidents and censored all critics. Prime Minister José Sócrates blamed the choice of Salazar on a vocal group of right-wing bloggers who mobilized the extremist vote. “We are a modern European country,” Sócrates said. “We voted 59 percent in favor of liberalizing abortion.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Scientists are the latest 'refugees'In the spotlight Brain drain to brain gain
-
5 dreamy books to dive into this JulyThe Week Recommends A 'politically charged' collection of essays, historical fiction goes sci-fi and more
