Lisbon decrees municipal mourning for the death of Pinto Balsemão

Municipal mourning has been decreed for October 22 and 23, with the municipal flag flying at half-mast in all municipal buildings and facilities.

Pinto Balsemão had been awarded the City Medal of Honor in 2023 at the Lisbon City Hall (CML), in a distinction that highlighted his "long life and work, with direct repercussions on the city of Lisbon and its inhabitants".

In the tribute, the president of the Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas, thanked him on behalf of all Lisboners "for leaving us a slightly better world".

Francisco José Pereira Pinto de Balsemão was born in Lisbon on September 1, 1937. A former student at Liceu Pedro Nunes, he graduated in Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. He was the founder and first editor of Expresso between 1973 and 1979.

He was a member of the National Assembly in the 10th Legislature (1969-1973), a member of the Constituent Assembly between 1975 and 1976 and a member of the Assembly of the Republic elected in 1979, 1980 and 1985.

He served in government as deputy minister of state to the prime minister in the Sixth Constitutional Government between 1980 and 1981. After the death of Francisco Sá Carneiro, Pinto Balsemão headed the 7th and 8th constitutional governments.

After his term as prime minister, he returned to the media, launching Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC).

News updated at 12 noon with information on municipal mourning in Lisbon.