The current president of Portugal, Marcello Rebelo Di Soza, was born in the capital of Lisbon in December 1948. He is a professor of law and for many years taught at the Institute of Legal and Political Sciences, as well as at the Law Faculty of the University of Lisbon. He is also a journalist and political commentator. In 2016, winning the election, he became the leader of the state. His rival was the current president of Portugal, Cavaco Silva, who this time won only 22% of the vote. Prior to that, Mr. Di Soza was chairman of the Social Democratic Party (1996-1999).
A family
Engaging in politics is a tradition in the di Soza family. Marcelo's father, Balthazar de Souza, is also a well-known Portuguese politician. He was the governor of the region of Mozambique, for a long time he served as minister in the Portuguese government during the reign of Prime Minister Antonio di Salazar. When Rebelo had a son, he decided to name him in honor of Marcel Caetan, the last dictator of Portugal, who later became the godfather of the boy. Then no one could have imagined that the born little 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, Marcelou received a master's degree in law, and after three years 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. Along with this, he did not stop studying and replenishing his knowledge. He devoted his whole life to education, journalism and commenting on various political processes taking place in society. In addition to the above universities, he also taught at the Portuguese Catholic University at the social and humanitarian faculties.
Due to his organization and excellent management skills, he was often appointed to the presidency. So, the future president of Portugal during his studies was the chairman of the stud. University Council, where he studied, headed the Pedagogical Council, etc. In 2005, he was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the University of Porto.
Journalism
As a journalist, Marcelo di Soza began working immediately after graduation from the university. Initially, he got a job at Expresso, was the administrator there, then the manager, deputy director, and since 1979 - director. He later co-founded the weekly. From the 90s, he became a political commentator and collaborated with TSF, and then with the National Journal, TVI and BBC1.
Political career
The political career of Marcello di Sosa began under the regime of “New State”. After the carnations revolution, he joined the party of Social Democrats, and a year later he was nominated by the native party to the parliament. In 1981, the future 20th president of Portugal was appointed to the post of Secretary of State for the Cabinet of Ministers. A year later, he took up the post of Minister for Parliament. At that time, the Prime Minister of the country was Cavaco Silva Anibal - President of Portugal since 2005. Since 1996, party members have elected him 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 the political coalition of the right-wing forces, which was called the "Democratic Alliance." Since 1997, he became vice president of the EPP (People’s Party of Europe).
The 20th president of Portugal, Marcello di Soza, also distinguished himself as a member of a campaign against abortion.
