Salazar, Antonio de Oliveira

Salazar, Antonio de Oliveira ( 1889 – 1970 )
Portuguese statesman, Prime Minister ( 1932 – 68 ). While Finance Minister ( 1928 – 40 ), he formulated austere fiscal policies to effect Portugal's economic recovery. During his long premiership, he ruled the country as a virtual dictator, firmly suppressing opposition and enacting a new authoritarian constitution along Fascist lines. Salazar maintained Portugal's neutrality throughout the Spanish Civil War and World War II.