The former Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, António Costa, remembered Francisco Pinto Balsemão, who died on Tuesday at the age of 88, as “a great figure of the country,” emphasizing his importance in the negotiations for Portugal’s accession to the European Union.
“I remember him, obviously, as a great figure of the country. Firstly, as a media entrepreneur, where he was decisive at two key moments,” Costa stated in an interview with SIC Notícias in Brussels.
He continued, “First, in the final phase of the dictatorship, when he created an important space aiming for the liberalization of the regime with the creation of Expresso, and later on, when he launched the first private television channel, SIC, at a time when this was crucial.”
“Then, as Prime Minister, he governed during a very short period – two and a half years – in two governments marked by great instability, heavily undermined internally, yet he made very significant contributions,” Costa recalled.
António Costa highlighted that one of his most important contributions was “the way he engaged in dialogue with the Socialist Party (PS) to achieve the constitutional revision in 1982, which truly institutionalized civil, pluralistic democracy.”
He further noted that Balsemão “took the first steps” towards having “a more open economy, complementing the public sector, the private sector, and the social sector” in Portugal.
“As Prime Minister, he implemented some important reforms. One was the first penal code of democracy, approved during his government, along with basic laws on private social welfare institutions,” Costa said.
The President of the European Council also mentioned that despite Balsemão being Prime Minister for “a very short, intense period,” it was a “very important” time, underscoring the former Prime Minister’s significant role “in the negotiations for Portugal’s accession to the European Union.”
Recently, in 2021, the then government of António Costa paid tribute to Francisco Pinto Balsemão precisely “for his role in Portugal’s accession to the European Union.” “This contribution was very important,” he said.
“Despite being political adversaries, we always maintained a relationship of great cordiality and sympathy. It was always very easy to dialogue with him. It is a great loss, but I think very few people can say that they left life without leaving such a meaningful mark on the country’s history, both as a politician and as an entrepreneur,” he emphasized.
It should be noted that Francisco Pinto Balsemão passed away on Tuesday evening, October 21. A statement explains that Balsemão died “of natural causes,” with his “final moments” being accompanied by family.
“A major figure in the defense of freedom, an unwavering advocate of press and expression freedom, Pinto Balsemão marked the country’s history in recent decades. He launched the most important Portuguese newspaper, Expresso, in 1973, and the first private television in Portugal, SIC, in 1992, among many other editorial projects,” the note reads.
Francisco Pinto Balsemão died at dusk on Tuesday, October 21, at 88 years old. He was an unparalleled figure in both politics and media. Dubbed as “founder of democracy,” one of the “most remarkable figures of the last sixty years,” as noted by the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic. “Portugal will never forget him.”
It should be noted that the Council of Ministers approved, this Wednesday, a two-day national mourning decree for the death of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, to be observed today and Thursday.
