Presidential elections were held in Portugal on 13 February 1949. Initially, incumbent president Óscar Carmona was due to face an opponent in General José Norton de Matos. However, the Salazar government subjected Norton de Matos and his followers to severe persecution. The intimidation progressed to the point that Norton de Matos pulled out of the contest just before election day.[1] As a result, Carmona was reelected unopposed for a fourth consecutive term.