Fernando dos Santos Costa (December 19, 1899 - October 15, 1982) was an officer of the Portuguese Army, who was a member of the Government of Salazar, from 1936 to 1958.
Santos Costa and Salazar met at the University of Coimbra in 1917, where they were both members of a Catholic student organisation, the Academic Centre for Christian Democracy. Santos Costa went on to join the Army and, as a second-lieutenant, took part in the Monarchy of the North, an abortive royalist uprising against the Portuguese Republic in 1919.
Still later, he was involved in the 1926 coup, that by degrees turned Portugal into an entrenched right-wing dictatorship. The decisive moment came in 1928 with the appointment of Salazar as Minister of Finance. Salazar went on to become Prime Minister in 1932 and established a Benito Mussolini-style corporate state, governed by 'non-party' specialists. One such specialist was Santos Costa, who became Under-Secretary of State (deputy Minister) of War in 1936, even though he still only held the junior rank of captain in the Army.
Santos Costa was set to become one of the leading figures of the New State, the style adopted by the Salazar dictatorship, responsible for the reforms intended to improve the fighting efficiency of the Army. After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, he was also strongly associated with the faction in both the State and Army that desired a German victory, even though this went against the good relations that Portugal traditionally enjoyed with England. Although far more right-wing than Salazar himself, and something of a dangerous political maverick, he was finally appointed full Minister of War in 1944, because of his skill in ensuring that the Army remained an effective prop for the dictatorship.
Post-war careeredit
After the War, Santos Costa was among the more reactionary members of the government, resisting all attempts at liberalisation. Following the death in 1951 of General Carmona, the head of state, he supported the restoration of Monarchy, along with the monarchist wing of the New State. Most of the regimen leaders disagreed. Salazar seeing no advantages in the return of the Monarchy, also supported the keeping of the elective President of the Republic.
In August 1958, in a surprise move by Salazar, Santos Costa was finally dropped from the government, along with Marcelo Caetano, from the more liberal wing of the New State apparatus. Nevertheless, he remained politically active, supporting his old boss at one moment, only to plot against him at the next. His ambitions to replace Salazar as premier were well-known, causing one member of the opposition to remark "If it is inevitable that we are going to have Santos Costa, we shall say mass every morning that the good Lord preserve Salazar."
Referencesedit
Paul H. Lewis. Latin Fascist Elites: The Mussolini, Franco, and Salazar Regimes. Praeger Publishers, 2002. ISBN0-275-97880-X.
Paul H. Lewis. Salazar's Ministerial Elite, 1932-1968. // The Journal of Politics, Vol. 40, No. 3 (Aug., 1978), pp. 622–647.
April 10, 2024
fernando, santos, costa, fernando, santos, costa, december, 1899, october, 1982, officer, portuguese, army, member, government, salazar, from, 1936, 1958, government, held, offices, under, secretary, state, 1936, 1944, minister, 1944, 1950, minister, national,. Fernando dos Santos Costa December 19 1899 October 15 1982 was an officer of the Portuguese Army who was a member of the Government of Salazar from 1936 to 1958 In the Government he held the offices of Under Secretary of State of War 1936 1944 Minister of War 1944 1950 and Minister of National Defense 1950 1958 Early career editSantos Costa and Salazar met at the University of Coimbra in 1917 where they were both members of a Catholic student organisation the Academic Centre for Christian Democracy Santos Costa went on to join the Army and as a second lieutenant took part in the Monarchy of the North an abortive royalist uprising against the Portuguese Republic in 1919 Still later he was involved in the 1926 coup that by degrees turned Portugal into an entrenched right wing dictatorship The decisive moment came in 1928 with the appointment of Salazar as Minister of Finance Salazar went on to become Prime Minister in 1932 and established a Benito Mussolini style corporate state governed by non party specialists One such specialist was Santos Costa who became Under Secretary of State deputy Minister of War in 1936 even though he still only held the junior rank of captain in the Army Santos Costa was set to become one of the leading figures of the New State the style adopted by the Salazar dictatorship responsible for the reforms intended to improve the fighting efficiency of the Army After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 he was also strongly associated with the faction in both the State and Army that desired a German victory even though this went against the good relations that Portugal traditionally enjoyed with England Although far more right wing than Salazar himself and something of a dangerous political maverick he was finally appointed full Minister of War in 1944 because of his skill in ensuring that the Army remained an effective prop for the dictatorship Post war career editAfter the War Santos Costa was among the more reactionary members of the government resisting all attempts at liberalisation Following the death in 1951 of General Carmona the head of state he supported the restoration of Monarchy along with the monarchist wing of the New State Most of the regimen leaders disagreed Salazar seeing no advantages in the return of the Monarchy also supported the keeping of the elective President of the Republic In August 1958 in a surprise move by Salazar Santos Costa was finally dropped from the government along with Marcelo Caetano from the more liberal wing of the New State apparatus Nevertheless he remained politically active supporting his old boss at one moment only to plot against him at the next His ambitions to replace Salazar as premier were well known causing one member of the opposition to remark If it is inevitable that we are going to have Santos Costa we shall say mass every morning that the good Lord preserve Salazar References editPaul H Lewis Latin Fascist Elites The Mussolini Franco and Salazar Regimes Praeger Publishers 2002 ISBN 0 275 97880 X Paul H Lewis Salazar s Ministerial Elite 1932 1968 The Journal of Politics Vol 40 No 3 Aug 1978 pp 622 647 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fernando Santos Costa amp oldid 991238756, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
