José Sócrates
After school, Sócrates studied at the National School of Health. At the age of 16, he joined the youth organization of the conservative Portuguese Social Democratic Party (PSD), where he remained a member until the mid-1970s. In 1981, Sócrates switched fronts and became a member of the Portuguese Socialist Party (PSP). In 1987 he entered parliament for the first time for the Socialists in the Castelo Branco constituency. In 1991 he was appointed to the party's National Secretariat, where he served as spokesman for environmental issues.
When the Portuguese Socialists returned to government in 1995, Sócrates took over the office of State Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment from 1995 to 1997 in the Antonio Guterrez cabinet. Then, from 1997 to 1999, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister (with competences in the areas of sports, youth and social communication) and finally from 1999 to 2002 the position of Minister of the Environment. As a politician, Sócrates made a name for himself primarily because of his resolute decision-making ability.
He also received great recognition during the 2004 European Football Championship, which he brought to Portugal. After the Socialists' electoral defeat, Sócrates resigned from his government functions in 2002. However, he remained a member of parliament. The government was taken over by the PSD under José Manuel Durão Barroso. After Barroso was appointed President of the EU Commission, Pedro Santana Lopes succeeded him as Portuguese Prime Minister in July 2004.
In September 2004, Sócrates was promoted to general secretary of the Socialist Party (SP). In November 2004, President Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampãio (PSP) dissolved parliament after conflicts within the government and ordered early elections. The PSP won a landslide victory in the February 2005 parliamentary elections. Party leader José Sócrates led the Socialists to an absolute majority. On March 15, 2005, José Sócrates officially took over as Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal.
The new head of government is considering a modernization of the economic structure and a foreign policy rapprochement with Europe. In mid-June 2005, Sócrates made his first state visit to Germany. In the second half of 2007 he held the office of chairman of the European Council, the highest body of the EU.
José Sócrates is divorced and has two children.
When the Portuguese Socialists returned to government in 1995, Sócrates took over the office of State Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment from 1995 to 1997 in the Antonio Guterrez cabinet. Then, from 1997 to 1999, he held the position of Deputy Prime Minister (with competences in the areas of sports, youth and social communication) and finally from 1999 to 2002 the position of Minister of the Environment. As a politician, Sócrates made a name for himself primarily because of his resolute decision-making ability.
He also received great recognition during the 2004 European Football Championship, which he brought to Portugal. After the Socialists' electoral defeat, Sócrates resigned from his government functions in 2002. However, he remained a member of parliament. The government was taken over by the PSD under José Manuel Durão Barroso. After Barroso was appointed President of the EU Commission, Pedro Santana Lopes succeeded him as Portuguese Prime Minister in July 2004.
In September 2004, Sócrates was promoted to general secretary of the Socialist Party (SP). In November 2004, President Jorge Fernando Branco de Sampãio (PSP) dissolved parliament after conflicts within the government and ordered early elections. The PSP won a landslide victory in the February 2005 parliamentary elections. Party leader José Sócrates led the Socialists to an absolute majority. On March 15, 2005, José Sócrates officially took over as Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal.
The new head of government is considering a modernization of the economic structure and a foreign policy rapprochement with Europe. In mid-June 2005, Sócrates made his first state visit to Germany. In the second half of 2007 he held the office of chairman of the European Council, the highest body of the EU.
José Sócrates is divorced and has two children.
