National Action Movement

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Movimento de Acção Nacional (National Action Movement) was a shortlived racist organisation in Portugal.

Formed in 1985, the group drew most of its membership from racist groups, and became associated with street violence against immigrants. The violence culminated in the assassination of a Trotskyite activist for which a number of members were brought to trial in 1992. Whilst this trial was on-going MAN officially disbanded but nonetheless the leaders of the group were brought to trial at the Portuguese Constitutional Court for forming a group that espoused 'Fascist ideology', which had been banned by the Constitution of Portugal. The trial attracted much mainstream media attention as it was the first case that the Constitutional Court had heard publicly but ultimately it was unable to pass a judgement as the movement had already disbanded.^[1]

Although the group had officially ceased to exist, several members went on to join the National Alliance, which was formed in 1995.

[edit] References

^ A. Costa Pinto, 'The Radical Right in Contemporary Portugal', L. Cheles, R. Ferguson & M. Vaughan (eds.), The Far Right in Western & Eastern Europe, London: Longman, 1995, p. 121