Aníbal Cavaco Silva
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| Aníbal Cavaco Silva | |
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| Name | Aníbal Cavaco Silva |
| Caption | Official portrait, 2006 |
| Office | President of Portugal |
| Term start | 9 March 2006 |
| Term end | 9 March 2016 |
| Primeminister | José Sócrates, Pedro Passos Coelho, António Costa |
| Predecessor | Jorge Sampaio |
| Successor | Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa |
| Office1 | Prime Minister of Portugal |
| Term start1 | 6 November 1985 |
| Term end1 | 28 October 1995 |
| President1 | António Ramalho Eanes, Mário Soares |
| Predecessor1 | Mário Soares |
| Successor1 | António Guterres |
| Office2 | Minister of Finance |
| Term start2 | 3 January 1980 |
| Term end2 | 9 January 1981 |
| Primeminister2 | Francisco de Sá Carneiro, Diogo Freitas do Amaral (acting) |
| Predecessor2 | António de Sousa Franco |
| Successor2 | João Morais Leitão |
| Birth date | 15 July 1939 |
| Birth place | Boliqueime, Portugal |
| Party | Social Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Maria Cavaco Silva |
| Alma mater | Technical University of Lisbon, University of York |
| Profession | Economist, Professor |
Aníbal Cavaco Silva is a Portuguese economist and statesman who served as the President of Portugal from 2006 to 2016. Previously, he was the Prime Minister of Portugal for a decade from 1985 to 1995, leading a Social Democratic Party government, and served briefly as Minister of Finance. His political tenure, spanning the late 20th and early 21st centuries, is associated with significant economic modernization and European integration following the Carnation Revolution.
Early life and education
He was born on 15 July 1939 in Boliqueime, Loulé Municipality, in the Algarve region. After completing his secondary education in Faro, he moved to Lisbon to study at the Instituto Superior de Ciências Económicas e Financeiras, part of the Technical University of Lisbon, where he graduated in Economics. He furthered his studies abroad, earning a PhD in Economics from the University of York in the United Kingdom in 1973, with a thesis focused on monetary policy and public finance.
Academic career
Before entering politics, he established a prominent career in academia and economic research. He served as a professor at the Catholic University of Portugal and later at the New University of Lisbon. He was also a researcher and member of the board at the Bank of Portugal, the nation's central bank, and directed the research department of the National Institute of Statistics. His scholarly work, published in journals like Gabinete de Investigações Sociais, centered on monetary economics and development.
Political career
His political ascent began after the Carnation Revolution, joining the Social Democratic Party (PSD). He was appointed Minister of Finance in 1980 under the government of Prime Minister Francisco de Sá Carneiro. Elected to the Assembly of the Republic, he became leader of the PSD in 1985. Following a decisive victory in the 1985 legislative election, he was appointed Prime Minister of Portugal, leading a single-party government. His administration, marked by a historic absolute majority in 1987, oversaw Portugal's deepening integration into the European Economic Community, major infrastructure projects, and economic liberalization.
Presidency (2006–2016)
Elected as the President of Portugal in the 2006 presidential election, he was sworn in on 9 March 2006, succeeding Jorge Sampaio. His tenure spanned the Great Recession and the subsequent Portuguese financial crisis, requiring the negotiation of a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission. He worked with Prime Ministers José Sócrates, Pedro Passos Coelho, and António Costa, and was re-elected in the 2011 election. His presidency was characterized by a focus on economic stability and constitutional oversight during a period of severe austerity.
Post-presidency and legacy
Since leaving office in 2016, succeeded by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, he has remained a respected elder statesman, occasionally commenting on national affairs. His legacy is primarily defined by his role as the longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister of Portugal in the post-Estado Novo era, presiding over a period of economic growth and European convergence. His presidential terms were pivotal during the nation's sovereign debt crisis, reinforcing the stabilizing role of the presidency within the Portuguese Third Republic.
Personal life
He married Maria Cavaco Silva (née Alves da Silva) in 1963. The couple has two children. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and has maintained a residence in Cascais. An avid golfer, he has also been involved with various cultural and charitable foundations in Portugal.
Category:Presidents of Portugal Category:Prime Ministers of Portugal Category:1939 births Category:Living people