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Women of the resistance

Maria Cândida Parreira

1877–1942

Maria Cândida Bragança de Oliveira Parreira

A Lisbon lawyer who graduated in Law in 1919, she was one of the first three Portuguese women deputies, elected in 1934 on the National Union lists, under the Estado Novo.

Labourlawyerwriter and lecturerdeputy in the National Assembly (1st legislature, 1935–1938)
Born
16 January 1877, Lisbon
Died
28 July 1942, Lisbon
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Biography

She was born in Lisbon in 1877.12 She graduated in Law in 1919 and was a lawyer, writer and lecturer.1 She described herself as a practising Catholic.2

In the elections of 16 December 1934 she was elected on the National Union lists and, with Domitila de Carvalho and Maria Guardiola, became one of the first three Portuguese women deputies. She sat in the National Assembly during the 1st legislature, from 1935 to 1938.12 This is how she explained the opening of parliament to women: Salazar had chosen those who “can contribute, through their profession, in matters of Family, Welfare and Education”.3 She died in Lisbon in 1942.12

Notes on the sources2
  • The days of birth (16 January 1877) and death (28 July 1942) come only from Wikipedia; Faces de Eva gives only the years.
  • Where and when she published the explanation of Salazar’s choice: Irene Flunser Pimentel quotes it without giving the source.

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Sources3
  1. 1Um olhar sobre a participação feminina na Assembleia Nacional: a deputada Virgínia Faria Gersão (Faces de Eva, n.º 47). Susana Fontes e Sónia Coelho / Faces de Eva (SciELO Portugal) — consulted on 2 October 2026
  2. 2Maria Cândida Parreira. Wikipédia (pt) — consulted on 2 October 2026
  3. 3O voto das mulheres em Portugal (Irene Flunser Pimentel, 29/9/2013). jugular (blogue, SAPO) — consulted on 2 October 2026
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