Valérie Hartwich Nov 12, 2009:

She sang the praises of the regime, so she can not have been making negative statements, but might have been tolerated despite her unconventional topics.

Christopher Fitzsimons (asker) Nov 8, 2009:

Great, that seems correct. Muito obrigado.

Luciano Eduardo de Oliveira Nov 8, 2009:

Ninguém lhe tocava probably refers to the fact that nobody dared to touch him, to harm him because he was a defender of the regime and as a consequence protected by it.

Christopher Fitzsimons (asker) Nov 8, 2009:

I see... It doesn't seem to make sense in the context as the text is about a writer who wrote homosexual poetry during the Estado Novo in Portugal but in spite of this "ninguém lhe tocava". Perhaps she wrote the poetry with homosexual undertones but them spoke positively of the regime on her radio show and so therefore was spared? Does that make sense? Thanks! :)

Luciano Eduardo de Oliveira Nov 8, 2009:

No, fazer apologia de is always positive.

Christopher Fitzsimons (asker) Nov 8, 2009:

Negative criticism of the dictatorship? I'm assuming that she was making some sort of negative statements on the regime?