Álvaro Laborinho Lúcio passed away today at the age of 83 at his home, confirmed Manuel Sequeira, Mayor of Nazaré, the city of his birth.
In a statement of condolence, the PSD, the party for which he was a deputy and part of its government, expressed profound sadness upon receiving the news, emphasizing that “Laborinho Lúcio was a brilliant jurist, one of the most prominent Ministers of Justice that Portugal had in democracy.”
“His humanistic vision of Law, where justice should serve the people, is a characteristic worthy of remembrance and admiration,” the PSD stated.
The Social Democratic Party highlighted that Laborinho Lúcio “was a pioneering voice in Portugal in defending children’s rights,” noting that “he advocated for educational, not punitive, justice focused on reintegration, responsibility, and protection of minors.”
The party noted that Laborinho Lúcio honored every position he held in the Republic, highlighting his tenure as Minister of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores from March 2003 to March 2006 as “a testament to his total dedication to the country, the law, and the Constitution.”
In the condolence note, offering “heartfelt condolences to family and friends,” the PSD said that Nazaré “lost one of its most illustrious citizens.”
“It was there that he found inspiration for his novels, works that reflect on life, good, evil, and, naturally, justice,” the statement added.
“May his legacy be an inspirational example for current and future generations,” urged the PSD, stressing that “Portugal lost a voice of integrity, humanity, freedom, and immense competence.”
A career magistrate, he served as Secretary of State for Judicial Administration, Minister of Justice, and as a deputy in the Assembly of the Republic, the party recalled.
With a Master’s degree in Legal-Civil Science from the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, he was a retired judge-counselor of the Supreme Court of Justice, a member of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, and president of the National Education Council.
