Diogo Freitas do Amaral facts for kids

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Freitas do Amaral in 2005
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 12 March 2005 – 3 July 2006
Prime Minister	José Sócrates
Preceded by	António Monteiro
Succeeded by	Luís Amado
In office 10 January 1980 – 12 January 1981
Prime Minister	Francisco de Sá Carneiro
Preceded by	João Cardoso
Succeeded by	André Gonçalves Pereira
President of the Democratic Social Centre
In office 31 January 1988 – 22 March 1992
Vice President	Basílio Horta João Morais Leitão José Luís Nogueira de Brito Luís Beiroco
Preceded by	Adriano Moreira
Succeeded by	Manuel Monteiro
In office 26 January 1975 – 20 February 1983
Vice President	Adelino Amaro da Costa Basílio Horta Francisco Lucas Pires Vítor de Sá Machado
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Francisco Lucas Pires
Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal
In office 4 September 1981 – 9 June 1983
Prime Minister	Francisco Pinto Balsemão
Preceded by	Office vacant
Succeeded by	Carlos Mota Pinto
In office 3 January 1980 – 9 January 1981
Prime Minister	Francisco de Sá Carneiro
Preceded by	Manuel Jacinto Nunes
Succeeded by	Office vacant
Minister of National Defence
In office 4 September 1981 – 9 June 1983
Prime Minister	Francisco Pinto Balsemão
Preceded by	Luís de Azevedo Coutinho
Succeeded by	Carlos Mota Pinto
Acting Prime Minister of Portugal
In office 4 December 1980 – 9 January 1981
President	António Ramalho Eanes
Deputy	Francisco Pinto Balsemão
Preceded by	Francisco de Sá Carneiro
Succeeded by	Francisco Pinto Balsemão
Personal details
Born	(1941-07-21)21 July 1941 Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
Died	3 October 2019(2019-10-03) (aged 78) Cascais, Portugal
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Democratic Social Centre – People's Party
Spouse	Maria José Salgado Sarmento de Matos
Children	4
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Diogo Pinto de Freitas do Amaral (born July 21, 1941 – died October 3, 2019) was an important Portuguese politician and a law professor. He was often known simply as Freitas do Amaral. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs twice. This job involves managing Portugal's relationships with other countries. He also briefly served as the Prime Minister of Portugal. The Prime Minister is the head of the government.

Early Life and Education

Diogo de Freitas do Amaral was born in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. He was the first son of Duarte de Freitas do Amaral and Maria Filomena de Campos Trocado. He also had a younger brother, João de Freitas do Amaral.

He studied at the University of Lisbon and earned degrees in Law. He became an expert in Administrative Law and Political Science. Later, he became a professor at the New University of Lisbon. He also taught at Lusófona University of Lisbon.

Political Career and Public Service

In 1974, after a big change in Portugal called the Carnation Revolution, Freitas do Amaral helped start a new political party. This party was called the Democratic and Social Centre (CDS). It was a Christian democratic party. He led this party for many years, from 1975 to 1985, and again from 1988 to 1991.

He was elected as a Deputy to the Assembly of the Republic. This is Portugal's parliament, where laws are made. He served there from 1975 to 1983, and again in the early 1990s. He was also a member of the Portuguese Council of State, which advises the President.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, his party joined with others to form a group called the Democratic Alliance. This group won elections and formed the government. Freitas do Amaral became the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1980. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence from 1981 to 1983.

After the Prime Minister, Francisco de Sá Carneiro, passed away, Freitas do Amaral became the interim (temporary) Prime Minister for a short time. This was between 1980 and 1981. From 1981 to 1982, he was also the President of the European People's Party. This is a group of similar political parties across Europe.

In 1986, he ran for President of Portugal. He was supported by his own party and the Social Democratic Party. He won the first round of voting but lost in the second round to Mário Soares.

From 1995 to 1996, he served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly. This is a very important role where he led meetings of countries from all over the world to discuss global issues.

Later, he left the party he helped create. He disagreed with their views on Europe. In 2005, he surprised many by supporting the Socialist Party in an election. He then became the Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs again. He resigned after about a year due to health reasons and tiredness from many diplomatic trips.

Besides his political work, he was also a legal advisor for many companies.

Books Written

Freitas do Amaral wrote several books. These include a biography of King Afonso I, who was a very important king in Portugal's history. He also wrote a play about Viriatus, a famous ancient Lusitanian leader. He also published a study about how prisons work in Portugal and how they could be improved.

Honours and Awards

Diogo de Freitas do Amaral received many awards from Portugal and other countries for his public service:

• Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Italy (1980)
• Grand-Cross of the Order of St. Olav, Norway (1980)
• Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany (1980)
• Grand-Cross of the Order of Christ, Portugal (1983)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry, Portugal (1984)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Saint James of the Sword, Portugal (2003)
• Commander of National Order of Merit, France (2006)
• First Class of the Order of the White Star, Estonia (2006)

Family Life

He married Maria José Salgado Sarmento de Matos in Sintra, Portugal, on July 31, 1965. Maria José is a writer who uses the name Maria Roma. They had four children together.

Freitas do Amaral passed away on October 3, 2019, in Cascais, Portugal, at the age of 78.

See also

In Spanish: Diogo Freitas do Amaral para niños