The spokesperson for Livre, Rui Tavares, expressed his sorrow on Thursday over the passing of socialist João Cravinho, describing him as someone who “never resigned to the fatalism of politics” and whose “life was marked by relentless advocacy for ethics.”
“João Cravinho left us yesterday, and with him, we lose an inquisitive person who consistently questioned the meaning of political action. As someone who was part of several governments and held many other significant positions, he never resigned to the fatalism of politics,” Rui Tavares wrote on the social media platform X.
The deputy highlighted that the former minister led a life “marked by relentless advocacy for ethics, not as an abstract flag, but as a daily and sometimes solitary practice.”
“He always knew that politics is, above all, a space for public service and a civic conception of the country and the world, which explains his persistence in fighting against corruption and opacity. João Cravinho leaves a void but, most importantly, an example: that democracy is made of courage, concrete ideas, and hope. And dignity,” he added, extending his “deepest condolences” to the family and friends of the socialist.
Deixou-nos ontem João Cravinho, e com ele perde-se uma pessoa inquieta que permanentemente se interrogou sobre o sentido da ação política. Alguém que,fazendo parte de vários governos e que assumiu muitos outros cargos relevantes, nunca se resignou ao fatalismo da política. 🧵1/4 pic.twitter.com/Sb6uGvWu1M
— rui tavares (@ruitavares) April 17, 2025
The former socialist minister João Cravinho passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88. He served as Minister for Infrastructure, Planning, and Territorial Administration in the 13th Constitutional Government led by António Guterres, and as Minister of Industry and Technology in the 4th Provisional Government, under the leadership of Vasco Gonçalves.
His son, João Gomes Cravinho, held the positions of Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs in governments led by António Costa.
