With a prolonged standing ovation from various parties and with the closest family present in the galleries, Parliament unanimously approved a vote of condolence for the death of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, a vote presented and read by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco. Here is the text in full:
“Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão left on October 21st, aged 88. Born in Lisbon, in 1937, his life is intertwined with the History of Lisbon itself. democracy. At the age of 32, he was a Deputy to the National Assembly, even before the revolution de Abril, joining the Liberal Wing group. He visited political prisoners and committed himself to defending freedom of the press, expression, information and assembly.
In 1973, he created “Expresso”, inspired by the example of the English press – a weekly newspaper, with a robust economics section and an innovative cultural section. After the revolution, he founded, with Sá Carneiro and Magalhães Mota, the Popular Democratic Party, of which he became the first member.
He was deputy and vice-president of the Constituent Assembly. Deputy Minister of the first Government of the Democratic Alliance, after the Camarate tragedy, he assumed the leadership of the PPD and the head of the VII and VIII Constitutional Governments. As prime minister, he was an important protagonist of the 1982 constitutional review and Portugal’s European path.
He was also a lawyer, journalist, university professor and businessman. In 1992, he founded Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC), the first private television channel in Portugal, part of an opening process that revolutionized the media industry and entertainment in our country. Until the end of his days, he remained irreverent and free, committed to a modern, democratic, European and open vision of the country, which he helped to build through his commitment in different areas.
The Assembly of the Republic, meeting in plenary, expresses deep regret at the death of Francisco Pinto Balsemão. To his family, friends and the Impresa group, he extends his condolences. It also expresses the conviction that Portuguese democracy, in its current form, owes much to the civic commitment, strategic drive and work of Francisco Pinto Balsemão. A man who, having been almost everything one can be in a democracy, was always, and above all, a committed and exemplary citizen.“
TIAGO MIRANDA
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