José Sócrates
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| Order: | 15th Prime Minister of Portugal (since the Portuguese Constitution of 1976) |
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| Term of Office | March 12, 2005 - |
| Predecessor: | Pedro Santana Lopes |
| Date of Birth | September 6, 1957 |
| Place of Birth: | Vilar de Maçada |
| Political Party: | Socialist |
José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (born in Vilar de Maçada, 6 September 1957) is a Portuguese politician, secretary-general of the Socialist Party and the current prime minister of Portugal, since March 12, 2005.
José Sócrates is a civil engineer, with post-graduate studies in the area of sanitary engineering. He has been a member of the Socialist Party since 1981 and a member of parliament since 1987. In 1995, he entered government as secretary of state for Environment in the first government of António Guterres. Two years later, Sócrates became Minister for Youth and Sports and was one of the organizers of the EURO 2004 cup in Portugal. He became Minister for Environment in Guterres' second government in 1999. Following the elections of 2002 (won by Durão Barroso), Sócrates became a member of the opposition. After the resignation of Ferro Rodrigues as party leader in 2004, he won a bid for the post of secretary-general against Manuel Alegre and João Soares, winning the vote of nearly 80% of party members on 24 September 2004.
He is divorced, and has two children.
After the landslide victory of his party in the 2005 Portuguese election, Sócrates was called on 24 February by president Jorge Sampaio to form a new government. Sócrates and his government took office in March 12, 2005.
| Preceded by: Pedro Santana Lopes |
Prime Minister of Portugal 2005– |
Succeeded by: Incumbent |
