[4] In September 1974, major José Sanches Osório, one of the leading figures of the Carnation Revolution and member of the first provisional government, is invited to become the party's general secretary.

[5] Osório met with the leaders of the European Union of Christian Democrats on 12 February 1975 and gained observer membership status.

[4] On the same date, the party submitted 8,500 signatures to the Constitutional Court, aiming to be legally recognized in time to participate in the 1975 legislative election.

[1] In 1975, CDS and PDC formed a coalition named the Center and Christian Democracy Union (União do Centro e Democracia Cristã).

[3] A number of independent right-wing candidates joined PDC for the 1979 Portuguese legislative election, and the party improved its electoral performance.