For the minister, being a “visionary social democrat, Francisco Pinto Balsemão marked generations, through his serenity, intelligence and persistence in the fight for freedom and sense of service to the country”.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, declared, this Wednesday, that, with the “one of the greatest figures of democracy” was lost, a “visionary social democrat” who marked generations.
“The country lost one of the greatest figures of democracy, a man of strong principles, founder of the PSD and convinced defender of freedom of expression and the press”, declared Pinto Luz in a note of condolence sent to Lusa.
For the minister, being a “visionary social democrat, Francisco Pinto Balsemão marked generations, through his serenity, intelligence and persistence in the fight for freedom and sense of service to the country”.
“In this difficult and profound moment of sadness, I express my solidarity and affection to his family and to all those who closely shared his passion for a more just and democratic society”, the note also reads.
Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former leader of the PSD, former prime minister and founder of Expresso and SIC, died on Tuesday at the age of 88.
Balsemão was the founder, in 1973, of the weekly newspaper Expresso, still during the dictatorship, of SIC, the first private television in Portugal, in 1992, and of the media group Impresa.
In 1974, after the 25th of April, he founded, with Francisco Sá Carneiro and Magalhães Mota, the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), later the Social Democratic Party PSD. He headed two governments after the death of Sá Carneiro, between 1981 and 1983, and was, until now, a member of the State Council, a consultative body for the President of the Republic.
