Maria da Fonte (movement)

Maria da Fonte (according to other data - Maria Louise Balaio or Maria Angelica di Simaesh) is a real historical person, although there is no accurate and reliable information about her. It is known that in 1846 she led a peasant Catholic uprising. Mary was born in the northern region of Fontarkad , belonging to the county and county of Braga . Perhaps it is the collective name of a group of women from the rebel movement ^[1] .

The uprising of Maria da Fonte - developed in the so-called. “The Minho Revolution” was directed against the government of Costa Cabral , who pursued a policy of state centralism and violated Catholic customs. The image of the militant Catholic Mary, fighting for freedom and justice, was close to the sentiments of the conservative peasants of northern Portugal in 1975. The revolutionary authorities of Lisbon were associated with the anti-people government of Costa Cabral with their communist-socialist policies.

The government of Vaska Gonsalvis , the Communist Party and the ultra-left wing of the ICE carried out a policy of consistent Sovietization after September 1974 . Oppositional sentiments were suppressed by arbitrary arrests ^[2] . Administrative centralization was intensified, including in the financial sphere (which also reminded of the times of Costa Cabral). Right-wing political activists and Catholic clergy, most notably the archbishop of Braga , called for resistance.

April 25, 1975 in Portugal held elections to the Constituent Assembly. Their results showed the predominance of moderate socialists ( joint venture Mario Soares ), liberals ( NDP Francisco Sa Carneiro ) and conservatives ( CJD Diogo Freitas do Amaral ), who together collected more than 70% of the vote. The Communists received only 12%, but the government of Gonçalves, speaking in alliance with the party Alvaru Cunhal , continued the previous policy. Through the nationalization of industry, transport, banks, the economy was put under the control of the radical radical military and the PCP. The trade union movement was unified under communist control. In the south, collectivization began with direct military pressure. Opposition parties protested, but the ruling Revolutionary Council expressed confidence in Gonçalvesh. The next day, July 13, 1975, a wave of anti-communist protests of a pogrom character swept Braga ^[3] .

The initiators of the creation of the movement “Maria da Fonte” were made by the famous journalist Waldemar Paradela de Abreu and the canon of the Cathedral of Braga, Eduardo Mel Peixoto , the leader of the anti-communist forces of the Northern Region of Portugal.

The North was a country of small farmers and small entrepreneurs, independent owners. The working class of the North was engaged not in large enterprises, but in small factories scattered across the fields. And this country faced the South of civil servants, latifundia and large companies - the property of old families, protected by dictatorship and nationalized by revolution. Violent independent communities united around traditional religious authorities. In the summer of 1975, these people took to the streets under the sound of bells to challenge the Lisbon Communism. This happened not for the first time - many then recalled 1846, the popular anti-tax riot of Maria da Fonte against Costa Cabral ^[4] .

The decision was made in July 1975 at a meeting of right-wing activists chaired by Mel. Financial and organizational assistance was provided by the secret operations expert Jorge Jardin . The consent and support of Archbishop Braga to Francisco Maria da Silva was received.

Paradela di Abreu secretly met with Francisco Maria da Silva. The archbishop agreed to put the church in the service of a large anti-communist struggle project. The Cathedral of canon Mela supported the uprising. In the following weeks, they passed through the north of Portugal with fire and sword ^[5] .

By this time, radical anti-communist organizations and right-opposition parties were already operating in Portugal. The main base of their influence was precisely the northern regions. However, the movement “Maria da Fonte” was significantly different from them.

The main difference from the terrorist ELP and MDLP was mass and demonstrative. On the other hand, the illegal nature and orientation on the use of force distinguished the “Maria da Fonte” from the NDP and the SAD. In addition, while the Liberation Army and the Democratic Movement consisted mainly of right-oriented military , former PIDE employees and staunch Salazarists , then Maria da Fonte had previously united apolitical citizens, usually peasants, committed to anti-communism , traditional conservatism and Catholicism .

Not the military, not the secret services, but peasants of the northern region of Portugal gathered here. Latifundy was not in the north; in the villages there lived individual peasants, good Catholics, parishioners of the Cathedral of Braga. The pro-communist government set out to cooperate, closing the churches. And the peasants - truly spiritually bound together in Catholic parishes - found the answer to that. In the spirit of revered from generation to generation, Maria da Fonte ^[6] .

The movement did not have a single ideology and party program. Among its participants were both socialists and future members of the right-wing MIRN crine, Caulza de Arriagi . The unifying idea was anti-communism. The slogans of social Catholicism and national conservatism were also advanced. The most effective organizational centers of the “structure ready for war” were church parishes - which initially corresponded to the idea of ​​Paradela di Abreu and Edouard Melou ^[7] . The buildings of the churches they considered as “fortresses”, the bells as “radio transmitters”, the peasant yards as “supply bases”, the priests as agitators and organizers of the struggle ^[8] .

In July-August 1975, the “Maria da Fonte” movement committed up to hundreds of mass power actions against the PCP and pro-communist organizations ^[9] . Attacks were primarily local party representation. The offices of the Communists were subject to defeat and arson, these actions of the movement were held in close coordination with the MDLP. At the same time, in all major cities of the north and partly of the center - Braga , Bragança , Lamego , Vila Real , Coimbra , Aveiro , Viana do Castelo - Catholic demonstrations were held under anti-communist and anti-government slogans. Clashes occurred in Porto , sunk to Lisbon ^[10] .

The fighters of "Maria da Fonte" were not only peasants, but also many citizens. A separate power group consisted of three hundred factory workers. Particularly attracted former soldiers of the colonial war in Africa .

“Maria da Fonte” found inspiration even in the red ideologies with which she fought. According to Mao's precepts, the religious army was popularly like fish in water ^[8] .

Along with the power actions "Maria da Fonte" led an intensive mass agitation. In the parishes spread thousands of leaflets and pamphlets, adapted to the perception of the peasants. Smoothly worked radio station traffic. Not only sermons and political appeals were transmitted, but also songs (sometimes in the traditional Fado style), also of unequivocal content: “Go away, Cunhal! Do not go back scoundrel! Because of you, traitors, Russians drink our wine for nothing! ” Among the leaders and agitators there were not only priests and political activists, but also popular fado singers, especially Juan Braga , one of the founders of the movement ^[8] .

Constantly appeals to Christian images sounded: the arsons of the communist offices were declared “ holy fire ”, Catholic slogans were pronounced before going to the rally. The atheistic nature of communism as a force hostile to Christianity and the anti-national character of the PCP as the party of Moscow lackeys was emphasized.

The movement acquired such scope that the head of the operational-combat department of the MDLP, Captain Kalvan, proposed to Parade di Abreu to proclaim an alternative state entity, the Free Homeland, in the controlled territories of the north. The commander of the Northern Military District, General Antonio Pires Veloso, spoke positively about the “Maria da Fonte”.

On August 10, 1975, Archbishop Francisco Maria da Silva delivered a politicized anti-communist sermon in the Cathedral of Braga (prepared with the participation of canon Melo) ^[11] . Thousands of parishioners moved to the local PKP headquarters, attacked and burned the premises. This event was the culmination of the Portuguese “Hot Summer”.

Paradela was delighted: "There is no such strength that could defeat us!" ^[8]

Mass anti-communist speeches in combination with party political activity and a series of terrorist acts of the anti-communist underground changed the balance of forces in the country. In the Armed Forces Movement, the right wing was strengthened. The events of November 25, 1975 launched a political process to the right. The prospect of communization has ceased to be relevant. Since 1976, the activity of “Maria da Fonte” has gradually ceased.

• Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Portugal
• Portugal Liberation Army
• CODECO