President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, via a statement on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, joins in a just tribute to Eurico de Melo on the centennial of his birth, highlighting his role during the initial stages and consolidation of democracy.
The head of state recalls Eurico de Melo’s political involvement “at the local and regional level initially, and later at the national party and governmental level, as well as in the European Parliament,” noting that he served “with a sense of state, ecumenical spirit, realistic leadership, and lucid wisdom.”
“For this role, the President of the Republic has decided to posthumously award the Order of Infante D. Henrique, at the grand cross rank, with the respective insignias being personally delivered to the family at the Palace of Belém,” the statement adds.
Eurico Silva Teixeira de Melo was born on September 28, 1925, in Santo Tirso, in the Porto district, and passed away on August 1, 2012, at the age of 86.
With a degree in chemical engineering, he served as vice-president of the PSD National Political Committee, chaired the party’s Congress and National Council during the 1980s and 1990s.
Eurico de Melo was the Minister of Internal Administration in the VI Constitutional Government, led by Francisco Sá Carneiro, and held the same position in the X Government under Aníbal Cavaco Silva, where he also became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense in the subsequent administration.
He was a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic and the European Parliament, a civil governor of Braga, and a member of the Municipal Assembly of Santo Tirso.
