Aníbal Cavaco Silva facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aníbal Cavaco Silva
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Cavaco Silva in 2013
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| 19th President of Portugal | |
| In office 9 March 2006 – 9 March 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | José Sócrates Pedro Passos Coelho António Costa |
| Preceded by | Jorge Sampaio |
| Succeeded by | Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa |
| Prime Minister of Portugal | |
| In office 6 November 1985 – 25 October 1995 |
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| President | António Ramalho Eanes Mário Soares |
| Deputy | Eurico de Melo |
| Preceded by | Mário Soares |
| Succeeded by | António Guterres |
| President of the Social Democratic Party | |
| In office 19 May 1985 – 19 February 1995 |
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| Secretary-General | Manuel Dias Loureiro José Falcão e Cunha José Nunes Liberato |
| Preceded by | Rui Machete |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Nogueira |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 3 January 1980 – 9 January 1981 |
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| Prime Minister | Francisco Sá Carneiro |
| Preceded by | António de Sousa Franco |
| Succeeded by | João Morais Leitão |
| Member of the Assembly of the Republic | |
| In office 4 November 1985 – 12 August 1987 |
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| Constituency | Lisbon |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva
15 July 1939 Boliqueime, Portugal |
| Political party | Social Democratic Party (since 1974) |
| Spouses |
Maria Cavaco Silva
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Technical University of Lisbon Alcuin College, York |
| Signature |  |
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva (born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist and politician. He served as the 19th president of Portugal from 2006 to 2016. Before that, he was the prime minister of Portugal from 1985 to 1995. His time as prime minister was the longest for a freely elected leader in Portugal's history. He was also the first prime minister to win a clear majority in parliament after 1974. He is well-known for helping Portugal join the European Union.
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Early Life and Education
Aníbal António Cavaco Silva was born in Boliqueime, a town in Algarve, Portugal. He worked hard in school and went on to study in Lisbon. In 1959, he took a course in accounting. Later, he studied at the Technical University of Lisbon, where he earned a degree in economics and finance in 1963. He also studied at the University of York in England.
After his studies, he became a professor at different universities, including the Catholic University of Portugal. He also worked as a director at the Bank of Portugal. Cavaco Silva has written many academic papers about economics. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Scotland's Heriot-Watt University in 2009.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Cavaco Silva joined the Social Democratic Party in 1974. He became the leader of the party in 1985.
Becoming Prime Minister
In the 1985 election, his party, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), won the most seats. Even though they didn't have a full majority, Cavaco Silva became prime minister on 6 November 1985. His government was a minority government, meaning it didn't have more than half the seats in parliament.
During his first term, Portugal's economy grew a lot. He was known for being supportive of the United States and committed to the European Community (which is now the European Union).
In 1987, there was another election. This time, Cavaco Silva's Social Democrats won a huge victory, getting 50.2% of the votes and 148 out of 250 seats in parliament. This was the first time since the 1974 revolution that one party won a clear majority. It was also the biggest majority ever won by a Portuguese party in a free election.
Under his leadership, Portugal's economy changed a lot from 1988 to 1993. In the 1991 election, his party won an even bigger majority. He decided not to run in the 1995 election.
After Being Prime Minister
After leaving the prime minister's office, Cavaco Silva ran for president in 1996 but lost to Jorge Sampaio. He then worked as an advisor for the Banco de Portugal (Bank of Portugal) for several years. Later, he became a full professor at the Catholic University of Portugal.
He is also a member of the Club of Madrid, which is a group of former democratic presidents and prime ministers.
Serving as President
On 20 October 2005, Cavaco Silva announced he would run for president again. He was elected President of Portugal on 22 January 2006, winning with 50.6% of the votes. This meant he didn't need a second round of voting. He became the first center-right president in Portugal since 1974.
He took office on 9 March 2006. His first term was marked by good cooperation with the government led by Prime Minister José Sócrates. Cavaco Silva was reelected president on 23 January 2011, winning with 52.92% of the vote. He began his second five-year term on 9 March 2011.
Political Challenges in 2015
In the general election on 4 October 2015, the government led by Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho lost its majority in parliament. The opposition parties gained more than half of the seats. Even though Passos Coelho's party was still the largest, he couldn't form a new government with enough support.
President Cavaco Silva faced a difficult decision. He first asked Passos Coelho to try and form a new government, even if it was a minority one. However, the opposition parties strongly disagreed with this. They quickly voted against Passos Coelho's new government, and it fell. Eventually, President Cavaco Silva appointed António Costa, the leader of the Socialist Party, as the new prime minister.
Family Life
Cavaco Silva married Maria Alves da Silva on 20 October 1963. They have two children, a daughter named Patricia and a son named Bruno. They also have five grandchildren. One of his grandchildren, António Montez, is a professional football player.
Awards and Honours
Cavaco Silva has received many awards and honours from Portugal and other countries for his service.
Portuguese Honours
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (2022)
Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty (2016)
Grand Collar of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword (2011)
Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders (2006)
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ (1995)
International Honours
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He has also received high honours from many countries around the world, including:
- Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (2009)
- Brazil: Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (2008)
- Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2009)
- Spain: Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (2006)
- Sweden: Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (2008)
State Visits
As President, Cavaco Silva traveled to many countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. His first state visit was to Spain in September 2006.
Images for kids
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Cavaco during his 2011 visit to the U.S.; pictured with John T. Chambers and Helder Antunes.
See Also
In Spanish: Aníbal Cavaco Silva para niños
- Liberalism in Portugal
