He was linked to sectors of the Portuguese extreme right during the transition to the Estado Novo and was one of the most active propagandists of fascist corporatism.
He adhered to the ideals of the National Revolution and, with Oliveira Salazar's support, did an internship in Italy before the Second World War, where he studied fascist corporate methods.
He was accompanied on his internship by Tullio Cianetti, then Minister for Trade Unions in Benito Mussolini's government and a member of the Fascist Grand Council, with whom he became great friends and, in his own words, a brother.
[notes 1] A member and leader of the National Union, his internship resulted in the book O Corporativismo Fascista [Fascist Corporatism], published in 1938, beginning a journey through the corporatist system that would shape his career.
He was an attorney for the Corporative Chamber (I, VII, VIII, X and XI legislatures),[3] a member of parliament, Undersecretary of State for Corporations and Social Welfare (1944–1948), Minister for the Economy (1948–1950) and administrator, deputy governor and governor of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino (1951–1974).