António de Sousa Franco

Background He was a son of António de Sousa Franco and wife Maria de Jesus Pacheco, in turn sister of Óscar Pacheco (Setúbal, São Julião, August 10, 1904 – February 17, 1970), Isabel Pacheco and Clóvis Pacheco and daughter of Joaquim Pacheco, born in Setúbal, and wife Deolinda Baptista.

Career He was a Licentiate, Doctorate and Full Professor of Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. He was President of the Directive Council of his Faculty.

He joined the Popular Democratic Party in 1974, who adopted the name of Social Democratic Party in 1976. Between 1977 and 1978, he was the interim leader of the party, due to Francisco Sá Carneiro's absence. He later left the party and was Minister of Finance in the government of Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, in 1979.

In 1986, he took office as President of the Portuguese Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas). In the meantime, he had come closer to the Socialist Party. He was again Minister of Finance in the first socialist government of António Guterres, from 1995 to 1999.

He was critical of the socialists in the following years, but accepted to be the top candidate of the Socialist Party's list for the 2004 European Parliament election.

Death

During a campaign event for the 2004 European election in a fishing facility in Matosinhos, Sousa Franco and his entourage were engulfed by a violent clash between members of two local factions of the Socialist Party. During the incident, Sousa Franco suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to the nearby Pedro Hispano Hospital, being pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Honours

He was awarded with the Grand Crosses of the Order of Christ and the Order of Saint James of the Sword.

Family He married in Coimbra, at the Old Cathedral, Maria Matilde Pessoa de Magalhães Figueiredo (b. Lisbon, São Domingos de Benfica, July 8, 1943), a Licentiate in History, daughter of João Correia de Magalhães Figueiredo, a decorated Portuguese Army Officer, and wife Carlota Matilde Sérgio Pessoa, a maternal niece of António Sérgio, without issue. She was previously married to António Manuel Delgado Tamagnini, a lawyer, by whom she had an only daughter, Inês Pessoa de Magalhães Figueiredo Tamagnini, unmarried and without issue. She is the sister of Eduardo Sérgio Pessoa de Magalhães Figueiredo, 2nd Baron of Costeira.