Yes, of course.

But both of my grandfathers managed to avoid being sent to fight in Africa during Portugal's Colonial Wars, so it is not impossible. One had connections. The other put a bee in his underwear the day before the inspection. Each did what was within their means to survive. 13 years of war, 41 of fascistic dictatorship.

But Estado Novo was a bit different. Salazar wasn't a populist, for example (quite the opposite, in fact). I doubt these new movements will manage to hold onto power for that long. The man did not create a cult of personality, he was an economics professor before being called upon by the army to serve as Minister of Finance and, subsequently, as Dictator. He was chosen for his academic qualifications, and he is an example of how fascistic technocracy isn't good, but still more stable than fascism, ultranationalist populism.

That's not the point they were making. They weren't suggesting that they personally were looking forward to becoming a party apparatchik. What they are saying is that the structure of these parties incentivizes both the party to empower loyal but unqualified people, and for unqualified people to seek upwards mobility through the party. Then, as the party grows and more of those types of people are put in positions of authority, eventually the whole thing collapses from incompetence.

Once they are in power, you can also follow orders to survive, but be as incompetent as you can to contribute to their downfal.