Detention of Américo Tomás and Marcello Caetano and 1974 Labour Day in Madeira

Abstract

The current paper intends to be an unpretentious contribution to deepen the knowledge, the interpretation and the clarification of the period that followed the military coup of April 25^th, 1974.
Two major moments occurred in Madeira in those early days of freedom: the imprison-ment of the Estado Novo main rulers; and the massive demonstration of the Labour Day, on May 1^st, 1974. As for the former, the reasons for the island to be the host of the deposed leaders, the way they were received, the political unrest their presence arouse and the controversy about their exile in Brazil were evaluated. Concerning the latter, the leitmotif, organisation, the popular involvement and its political and social consequences were identified, highlighting the conclusion that the 25^th April in Madeira took place on May 1^st.
Not only was the approach of these events done in parcels, but mainly taking into account their relationship and evaluation of the impact in implementing and speeding up the Carnation Revolution, on the archipelago of Madeira.
The local and national press of the time, the audio and television records and the available bibliography were the sources for this brief view – to be expanded later – on a very striking period in the History of the 25^th April in Madeira.

Keywords

25^th April; Carnation Revolution; Armed Forces Movement; National Salvation Board; Américo Tomás; Marcello Caetano; Palace of São Lourenço; May 1^st; Labour Day; Madeira.