Manuel Pizarro

Manuel Francisco Pizarro de Sampaio e Castro (born 2 February 1964) is a Portuguese politician of the Socialist Party who served as Minister of Health in Prime Minister António Costa's third cabinet from 2022 to 2024. He previously was a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2022.

Political career Pizarro started his political career as a member of the Parish Council in Ramalde, Porto, firstly as a member of the Portuguese Communist Party and, from 1993, as a member of the Socialist Party. He was firstly elected to parliament after the 2005 legislative election, being a candidate in Porto District.

He ran for mayor of Porto twice, firstly in 2013 and secondly in 2017, losing both times to Rui Moreira.

Member of the European Parliament, 2019–2022 Pizzaro was elected as Member of the European Parliament after the 2019 European elections. In parliament, he served on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Fisheries.

In addition to his committee assignments, Pizzaro was part of the parliament's delegation for relations with Brazil. He was also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Trade Unions and the URBAN Intergroup.

Minister of Health, 2022–2024 In September 2022, Pizzaro was appointed by Prime Minister António Costa to replace Marta Temido as Minister of Health, joining the XXIII Constitutional Government.

On May 18, 2023, the Portuguese state broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal reported that Pizarro was under investigation by the Portuguese Public Prosecution Service.

Other activities UNITE – Parliamentary Network to End HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Other Infectious Diseases, Member (since 2019)