Marcelo remembers Jorge Sampaio, the “great lord” of Portuguese democracy

On Monday, the President of the Republic referred to former head of state Jorge Sampaio, who would have turned 83 on Sunday, as the “great master” of Portuguese democracy, whose “non-conformist spirit will continue to serve as a guide.”

“The President of the Republic, on the birthday of President Jorge Sampaio, remembers with deep nostalgia the great statesman, the great lord of our democracy, who with a brilliant mind and serenity has always fought for freedom and equality,” reads a note published today on the website of the Presidium of the Republic.

Marcelo Rebelo Souza emphasizes that “his example, his non-conformist spirit will continue to serve as a guide for all who seek peace and justice.”

“On this day, he pays tribute to the Friend of all life,” the note also says.

Born on September 18, 1939, Jorge Sampaio, who served as President of the Republic from 1996 to 2006, died on September 10, 2021 at the age of 81 at the Santa Cruz Hospital in Carnachida, Oeiras.

Until April 25, 1974, Jorge Sampaio was one of the main protagonists of the academic crisis of the early 1960s, which gave rise to a long and widespread student protest movement against the Estado Novo, because as a lawyer he defended political prisoners during the dictatorship.

Jorge Sampaio was General Secretary of the PS (1989–1992), President of the Lisbon City Council (1990–1995) and President of the Republic (1996 and 2006).

After serving as President of the Republic, he was appointed in 2006 by the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) as Special Envoy for Tuberculosis, and between 2007 and 2013 by the Alliance of Civilizations.

In 2013, he founded the Global Platform for Syrian Students, which he chaired, which aimed to contribute to the response to the academic emergency caused by the conflict in Syria, which has deprived thousands of young people of access to education.