Mário Soares

Mário Soares
Xunta de Galicia · Attribution · source
Name	Mário Soares
Birth date	December 7, 1924
Birth place	Lisbon, Portugal
Death date	January 7, 2017
Death place	Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality	Portuguese
Party	Socialist Party (Portugal)
Spouse	Maria Barroso
Children	João Soares
Occupation	Lawyer, Politician

Mário Soares was a prominent Portuguese politician who played a crucial role in the country's transition to democracy after the Carnation Revolution in 1974. He was a key figure in the Socialist Party (Portugal) and served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1985. Soares was also the President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996, working closely with other European leaders such as François Mitterrand of France and Helmut Kohl of Germany. His presidency was marked by significant events, including the country's accession to the European Economic Community in 1986, which was supported by European Commission presidents like Jacques Delors.

● Early Life and Education

Mário Soares was born in Lisbon, Portugal, to a family of republican sympathizers. His father, João Soares, was a teacher and a freemason who had been involved in the Portuguese First Republic. Soares studied at the University of Lisbon, where he earned a degree in law and became involved in politics, joining the Portuguese Communist Party and later the Socialist Party (Portugal). He was influenced by the ideas of Marxism and socialism, and was also inspired by the Spanish Civil War and the French Resistance during World War II. Soares' early life was also marked by his relationships with other prominent Portuguese figures, including Álvaro Cunhal and Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho.

● Political Career

Soares' political career began in the 1940s, when he became involved in the Portuguese resistance against the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar. He was arrested several times for his political activities and was eventually forced into exile in France, where he met other prominent socialist leaders like Léon Blum and Jean Jaurès. Soares returned to Portugal in 1968 and became a key figure in the Socialist Party (Portugal), which was founded in 1973. He played a crucial role in the Carnation Revolution of 1974, which overthrew the Estado Novo regime and established a democratic government in Portugal. Soares worked closely with other leaders, including António Spínola and Vasco Gonçalves, to establish a new constitution and hold free elections in Portugal. He also maintained relationships with international leaders, such as Willy Brandt of Germany and Olof Palme of Sweden.

● Presidency and Later Life

Soares was elected as the President of Portugal in 1986, defeating Diogo Freitas do Amaral in the Portuguese presidential election, 1986. During his presidency, he oversaw the country's accession to the European Economic Community and played a key role in shaping Portugal's foreign policy, including its relationships with other European Union member states like Spain, Italy, and Greece. Soares also worked to strengthen Portugal's relationships with other countries, including the United States, Brazil, and China. He was a strong supporter of European integration and worked closely with other European leaders, such as Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom and Ruud Lubbers of the Netherlands. After leaving office in 1996, Soares remained involved in politics and continued to play a role in the Socialist Party (Portugal), working with other leaders like António Guterres and José Manuel Barroso.

● Legacy

Mário Soares' legacy is complex and multifaceted, reflecting his role as a key figure in Portugal's transition to democracy and his contributions to the country's development as a European Union member state. He is remembered as a champion of socialism and democracy, and his presidency is seen as a period of significant economic and social change in Portugal. Soares' relationships with other European leaders, including François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl, helped to shape the country's foreign policy and its role in the European Union. He was also a strong supporter of human rights and social justice, and worked to promote these values both in Portugal and internationally, through organizations like the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Soares received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to politics and democracy, including the Charlemagne Prize and the Prince of Asturias Award. He passed away on January 7, 2017, at the age of 92, and was remembered by leaders around the world, including António Costa of Portugal, Marine Le Pen of France, and Angela Merkel of Germany.