The current President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo Di Sousa, was born in the country's capital, Lisbon, in December 1948. He is a professor of law and has taught for many years at the Institute of Legal and Political Sciences, as well as at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. He is also a journalist and political commentator. In 2016, having won the elections, he became the leader of the state. His opponent was the incumbent President of Portugal, Cavaco Silva, who this time won only 22% of the vote. Before that, Mr. Di Sosa was the chairman of the Social Democratic Party (1996-1999).
Family
Engaging in politics is a tradition in the di Sousa family. Marcelo's father, B altasar de Souza, is also a well-known Portuguese politician. He was the governor of the Mozambique region, and for a long time served as a minister in the government of Portugal during the reign of Prime Minister António de Salazar. When Rebelo had a son, he decided to name him after Marcelo Caetano, the last dictator of Portugal, who later became the boy's godfather. Then no onecould not imagine that the born boy is the future president of Portugal. After the Carnation Revolution, in April 1974, the di Sozo family fled to Brazil.
Education and teaching
In 1971, Marcelo received a master's degree in law, and three years later he defended his doctoral dissertation and became a doctor of political and legal sciences. After that, he began to teach these disciplines to students of the country's main university. At the same time, he never stopped learning and expanding his knowledge. He devoted his whole life to education, journalism and commenting on various political processes taking place in the life of society. In addition to the above universities, he also taught at the Portuguese Catholic University in the social and humanitarian faculties.
Because of his organization and excellent management skills, he was often appointed to chair positions. So, the future president of Portugal during his studies was the chairman of the students. council of the university where he studied, headed the pedagogical council, etc. In 2005, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Porto.
Journalism
As a journalist, Marcelo di Sousa began working immediately after graduating from university. Initially, he got a job at Expresso, was an administrator there, then a manager, deputy director, and since 1979 - a director. He later co-founded the weekly. From the 90s he became a political commentator and collaborated with TSF and later withNational Journal, TVI and BBC1.
Political career
Marcelo de Sousa's political career began under the New State regime. After the Carnation Revolution, he joined the Social Democrats, and a year later was nominated by his native party as a member of parliament. In 1981, the future 20th President of Portugal was appointed to the post of Cabinet Secretary of State. A year later, he assumed the post of Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. At that time, the country's prime minister was Cavaco Silva Anibal, the president of Portugal since 2005. Since 1996, his fellow party members have chosen him as the leader of the party, and for 3 years he was considered one of the most influential opposition politicians in the country. It was he who in 1996 created a political coalition of right-wing forces, which was called the “Democratic Alliance”. Since 1997, he has been Vice-President of the EPP (People's Party of Europe).
The 20th President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, also distinguished himself as a member of the anti-abortion campaign.
Interesting facts
Mr. di Sousa is a big football fan. Today, among his idols is Cristiano Ronaldo. Before he was elected president of the country, he worked as a journalist, and he had the opportunity to interview the famous football player more than once.
At 68, he has a tireless temperament, sleeping no more than 5 hours a day. He enjoys speed reading and “swallows” up to two books a day.
Marcelo di Sousa is a cavalierOrder of St. James and is considered a commander, was also awarded the Cross of Henry the Navigator.
Today he is one of the few Western leaders who welcome the development of relations with Russia. He shows sympathy for the Russian president in every possible way and wishes to invite him on a friendly visit to Portugal.
