National Syndicalists (Portugal)

The Movimento Nacional Sindicalista or MNS, believed in National syndicalism more specifically in a Portuguese adaptation that integrated the teachings of Lusitanian Integralism along with separate views away from Lusitanian Integralism developed by Francisco Rolão Preto such as the beliefs of a 4th way away from Liberal capitalism, Communism, Fascism, while Political scientists and others professional still see them as fascists Rolão preto never accepted this.

The Movimento Nacional-Sindicalista advocated a form of national syndicalism combining nationalism, syndicalism and corporatism. Its programme called for compulsory organization of workers in professional unions and for production to be coordinated through corporatist institutions. It also recognized private property as a natural right while arguing that its extent should be limited according to its social utility. Political representation was conceived through municipalities, provinces and corporations rather than exclusively through liberal parliamentary representation.

Rolão Preto believed that the "Resurrection Of the Dead" (A specific chapter in Justiça! And metaphor that speaks of the old social, political, economic forces) " This macabre and grotesque resurrection of the dead comes from the four corners of the past..." In this specific passage he speaks about feudalism, old elites, Parliamentary politicians, political bosses and Reactionaries. By this we can say that the Movimento Nacional Sindicalista was Strongly opposed to Reactionarism while still firmly supporting tradition.

The MNS emerged amongst a group of students who were associated with the Liga Nacional 28 de maio but had grown disillusioned with its right-wing economic platform.^[1] Under the leadership of Francisco Rolão Preto, the National Syndicalists emerged in 1932 from a tradition of Monarchism and Integralismo Lusitano ("Lusitanic Integralism") to offer a platform that they hoped would lead to full corporatism of association or unionism in opposition to capitalism and communism.^[1] They called for an Authoritarian state to rule Portugal, although they placed central importance on the Catholic Church and made Catholic identity an important part of their appeal.^[1] They adopted the Order of Christ Cross as their emblem, in order to underline their Christian ethos, and set up their own armed militia that became known as the "Blueshirts" (Camisas azuis) because of the colour of their uniforms (inspired by Benito Mussolini's Blackshirts); they also greeted each other using the Roman salute. Their main inspiration was Italian fascism although they were also linked to the Spanish Falange, who shared many of their ideas.

The MNS was a political movement also known as the "Blue Shirts," which they wore as a uniform. They held rallies in uniform, during which they used the Roman salute in vogue among European nationalist organizations of the time.

Rolão Preto clashed with José Antonio Primo de Rivera the founder and leader of the Spanish Falange Española, whom he dubbed "too capitalist", and the MNS also hinted at wishing to add Spanish Galicia to Portugal, a further source of tension with the Falangist.^[1] Brigadas de choque, a form of stormtrooper organisation, were established by the MNS although rarely utilised, with street battles not really a feature of Portuguese politics at the time.^[2] They grew rapidly in their early stages and were estimated to have 25,000 members by 1933, 5,000 more than the governing National Union.^[1] The National Syndicalists were fairly critical of the regime of António de Oliveira Salazar and the Estado Novo.

Salazar allowed the group to hold a national conference in November 1933 and indicating if they abandoned open syndicalism he would be prepared to bring them into his National Union en bloc.^[2] Whilst this proposal was not accepted by the MNS as a group many members approved, resulting in a split within the movement in early 1934, with many of those in favour of the moderate approach rewarded with positions within Salazar's government.^[2] Salazar announced the dissolution of the group on July 29, 1934, condemning the group for its defense of syndicalism.

Salazar used to call the MNS "National Communists".^{[citation needed][3]}

Despite this official end the National Syndicalists carried on in secret and Rolão Preto helped to lead a conspiracy against the government, which also involved moderate monarchists, some members of the Portuguese Republican Party, and even a few socialists and anarchists who simply wanted to overthrow the regime. The revolt took place on September 10, 1935 but it failed to gain the support of all but a small group of soldiers on board the Bartolomeu Dias warship and in the Lisbon area of Penha de França, being crushed almost immediately. As a result of this Rolão Preto and his deputy Alberto Monsaraz were forced into exile in Spain and the National Syndicalists were fully repressed. The dissidents of the National Syndicalists were subsequently integrated in the União Nacional.

• National Syndicalism