Strong Man's Victory

Portugal, which has not had a real election for 20 years, held another mock ballot this week. Premier Antonio de Oliveira Salazar's ticket won a unanimous victory. The opposition, protesting that registration lists were rigged, abstained from voting.

Some observers in Lisbon thought, however, that at a time when authoritarianism was out of fashion, Strong Man Salazar might have lost more than he gained by an election he called "as free as those in England." Though his budgets balance perfectly as ever, food is scarce, living costs up 60 to 100%. Resentments kindled in the elections might catch fire later among the businessmen. Communists, intellectuals and naval officers who comprise his disunited opposition.

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