Eanes, António dos Santos Ramalho

Eanes, António dos Santos Ramalho (äNtôn`y ds säN`tz rämäl`y yä`nēsh), 1935–, Portuguese military leader and politician. Eanes became disillusioned with Portugal's colonial policy and in 1974 joined other dissatisfied officers in the Armed Forces movement, which helped overthrow the dictatorial regime of Marcello Caetano. As the revolutionary regimes became more radical in 1975, he emerged as a leader of the centrist officers, and in Nov., 1975, was chiefly responsible for defeating the last important leftist coup attempt. Elected president in 1976, he held that office until 1986, playing an important role in consolidating democracy in Portugal.

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Eanes, António dos Santos Ramalho 

Born Jan. 25, 1935, in Alcains. Portuguese military and state figure. General (1978).

After graduating from a military school in 1956, Eanes completed officers’ training courses. He also studied at an institute of psychology and at the law faculty of the University of Lisbon. From 1958 to 1974 he served with the Portuguese colonial forces in Goa, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola. He joined other Portuguese military officers in activities directed against the fascist regime.

After the revolution of Apr. 25, 1974, Eanes was transferred from Angola to Lisbon, where he was appointed to a committee for the mass media. He subsequently became chairman of the board of directors of Portuguese television. In 1975 he served on the staff of the Revolutionary Council. In December of the same year he was named army chief of staff and became a member of the Revolutionary Council.

In the general election of June 1976, Eanes was elected president of the Portuguese Republic. In addition to serving as president, he is supreme commander of the armed forces and chairman of the Revolutionary Council. In 1980, Eanes was elected to a second term as president.