“Regarding the passing of Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former Prime Minister of Portugal, we just heard from the Secretary-General, who said that Portugal has lost a remarkable statesman, a brilliant media figure, and a dear friend,” stated Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Guterres, during the daily press briefing in New York.
Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former leader of the PSD, ex-Prime Minister, and founder of Expresso and SIC, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88.
Balsemão founded the weekly newspaper Expresso in 1973, during the dictatorship, SIC, Portugal’s first private television channel, in 1992, and the media group Impresa.
In 1974, after the Carnation Revolution on April 25, he co-founded the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) with Francisco Sá Carneiro and Magalhães Mota, later renamed the Social Democratic Party (PSD).
He led two governments following Sá Carneiro’s death, from 1981 to 1983, and remained a member of the Council of State, an advisory body to the President of the Republic, until his death.
