“He leaves us as one of the greatest national references in politics, journalism, and society, but his legacy will forever remain in the memory of the Portuguese,” stated Gouveia e Melo in a reaction to the death of Balsemão, who died on Tuesday, as conveyed to Lusa agency.
The admiral in reserve recalled having met the former Prime Minister and founder of PPD/PSD at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and remembered “the very interesting conversations” they had since then.
“My sincere condolences to the family, especially to the children, grandchildren, and wife, and to all his friends. I also extend my condolences to the PSD, the party he founded and was a militant of,” he added.
Balsemão, former leader of PSD, ex-Prime Minister, and founder of Expresso and SIC, died today at the age of 88.
The news of the death of PSD’s number one member was announced by the social-democratic president and Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, during a national council meeting of the party in Lisbon.
Balsemão founded the weekly newspaper Expresso in 1973, still during the dictatorship, SIC, the first private television in Portugal, in 1992, and the media group Impresa.
In 1974, following the 25th of April revolution, he founded, along with Francisco Sá Carneiro and Magalhães Mota, the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD), later known as the Partido Social Democrata PSD. He led two governments after the death of Sá Carneiro, between 1980 and 1983, and has been a member of the Council of State, an advisory body to the President of the Republic.
