Hugo Delgado / Lusa
Former Minister of Justice Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio
Jurist, former minister and Public Prosecutor, writer and amateur actor, with a subtle humor and inspiring thoughts, Laborinho Lúcio was one of the pioneering voices in Portugal in defending children’s rights.
The jurist, writer and former Minister of Justice Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio He died this Thursday, aged 83, at his home.
The news of the death was confirmed to the Lusa agency by the president of the Chamber of Nazaré, Manuel Sequeira (PS).
The Prime Minister, Luis Montenegrohighlighted the former minister’s civic and political participation, highlighting his dedication to the public cause and the country.
“Alvaro Laborinho Lúcio left us at the age of 83. An illustrious jurist, former Minister of Justice and distinguished writer, he was exemplary in civic and political participation and in dedication to the public cause and our country”, Luís Montenegro on the social network X.
The prime minister also offered Laborinho Lúcio’s family and friends “heartfelt condolences and deep gratitude”.
Laborinho Lúcio was Secretary of State for Judicial Administration and Minister of Justice in 1990, during the government of Cavaco Silvaand Minister of the Republic for the Azores, in 2003, during the Presidency of Jorge Sampaio.
It was also Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Coimbra, inspector of the Public Ministry, Deputy Attorney General of the Republic, director of the Judiciary Police School and the Center for Judicial Studies.
More recently, he formed the Independent Commission for the Study of Child Sexual Abuse in the Portuguese Catholic Church.
Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio was born in Nazaré on December 1, 1941. In his youth, he was amateur actorhaving participated in the creation of the Nazaré Theater Group. At Nazaré City Council, he was president of the Municipal Assembly, during the executive mandate of Jorge Barroso (PSD).
He entered the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, where he graduated in Law and obtained the Complementary Course in Legal Sciences. He was a member, among others, of associations like APAV – Portuguese Victim Support Association and CRESCER-SER, of which he is a founding member.
Between 2013 and 2017, he was President of the General Council of the University of Minho and an Elected Member of the International Academy of Portuguese Culture.
He was decorated in 2005 by the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio, with the Grand Cross of the Order of Christ.
Life dedicated to social causes
The PSD lamented the death of Laborinho Lúcio, highlighting that he was one of the most prominent justice ministers in democracy and one of the pioneering voices in Portugal in defending children’s rights.
“His humanist vision of Law, in which justice must be at the service of people, is a characteristic that deserves to be remembered and admired”, says the PSD, in a note of regret.
For the party, Laborinho Lúcio dignified all the positions he held in the Republic, highlighting as an example the period, between March 2003 and March 2006, in which he held the position of Minister of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores, “testimony of his total dedication to the country, the law and the Constitution”.
In the note of condolence, in which it offers “heartfelt condolences to family and friends”, the PSD states that Nazaré “lost one of its most illustrious citizens”. “It was there that he found inspiration for his novels, works that reflect on life, good, evil and, naturally, justice”, he adds.
“May your legacy be an example of inspiration for current and future generations” asks the PSD, highlighting that “Portugal has lost an integral, human, free and enormously competent voice”.
Also the Child Support Institute mourned the death of Laborinho Lúcio, highlighting him as greater figure of justice and citizenshipwith a life dedicated to defending the interests of children and social and human causes.
In a publication on the social network Facebook, the Child Support Institute (IAC) highlights its “subtle humor and inspiring thought” and the “firm voice in defense of children’s rights in Portugal”.
“His connection to the IAC was made of presence and belonging. As a member of the Advisory Board, he closely followed our path, offering thoughts, inspiration and courage”, is mentioned in the message.
The IAC also highlights that Laborinho Lúcio was “a pioneer in the legal approach to sensitive topics, particularly with regard to the sexual abuse of children, helping the country to look, with truth and responsibility, at realities that have been silenced for too long”.
According to the IAC, the example and legacy of Laborinho Lúcio will remain forever.
