• 2024-02

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

Marcelo Nuno Duarte Rebelo de Sousa (born 12 December 1948) is a Portuguese politician and law professor who is the 20th and current president of Portugal since 2016. A member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he served as leader of the party from 1996 to 1999, and as a member of the Assembly of the Republic from 1974 to 1983 and again from 1985 to 1996.

Rebelo de Sousa began his political career as a member of the Constituent Assembly, which drafted the 1976 Portuguese Constitution, and was subsequently elected to Parliament, representing Lisbon. He became leader of the PSD in 1996 and led the party to victory in the 1999 parliamentary election. However, he resigned as leader after the party's defeat in the 2002 election.

Rebelo de Sousa returned to politics in 2015 when he was elected President of Portugal, narrowly defeating António Sampaio da Nóvoa in the first round of voting. He won re-election in 2021, becoming the first president to serve a second term since Mário Soares in 1991.

Rebelo de Sousa is a graduate of the University of Lisbon, where he studied law and political science. He is married to Maria de Sousa Uva and has two children.

Early life and education

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was born in Lisbon, Portugal on 12 December 1948 to Baltasar Rebelo de Sousa, a lawyer and politician, and Maria das Neves Duarte Rebelo de Sousa. He has two sisters, Margarida Rebelo de Sousa and Catarina Rebelo de Sousa.

Rebelo de Sousa attended the Liceu Pedro Nunes in Lisbon, where he was a classmate of future President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio. He then studied law and political science at the University of Lisbon, where he graduated in 1971.

Political career

Rebelo de Sousa began his political career in 1974, when he was elected to the Constituent Assembly, which was tasked with drafting the 1976 Portuguese Constitution. He was subsequently elected to Parliament, representing Lisbon, and served as a member of the Assembly of the Republic from 1974 to 1983 and again from 1985 to 1996.

In 1996, Rebelo de Sousa was elected leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). He led the party to victory in the 1999 parliamentary election, but resigned as leader after the party's defeat in the 2002 election.

Rebelo de Sousa returned to politics in 2015 when he was elected President of Portugal. He narrowly defeated António Sampaio da Nóvoa in the first round of voting and won the second round by a landslide. He was inaugurated as President on 9 March 2016.

Rebelo de Sousa's presidency has been marked by a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2017 Portuguese forest fires, and the 2018 financial crisis. He has also been a vocal critic of the European Union, which he believes has become too bureaucratic and undemocratic.

In 2021, Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected to a second term as President of Portugal. He became the first president to serve a second term since Mário Soares in 1991.

Personal life

Rebelo de Sousa is married to Maria de Sousa Uva, a law professor, and has two children, Nuno and Sofia. He is a keen sportsman and enjoys playing tennis, golf, and football. He is also a fan of classical music and literature.