Miranda Calha

Júlio Francisco Miranda Calha (17 November 1947 – 28 March 2020) was a Portuguese Socialist Party politician. He served in the Assembly of the Republic from the Constituent Assembly in 1975 until the end of the 13th legislature in 2019.

Biography Born in Portalegre, Miranda Calha earned degrees in German Studies and Pedagogical Sciences. He was a founder member of the Socialist Party's branch in Portalegre District after the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

Miranda Calha was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Portugal in 1975 and retained his seat until the end of the 13th legislature in 2019. In October 2014, he was elected to replace Ferro Rodrigues as Vice President of the Assembly.

A close ally of Mário Soares, he said this in 2018 when asked whether he was left-wing: "I'm not saying yes or no. I am centre-left, which is normal. The PS is a party of the people, not a populist party. It is made up of diverse sectors of society. This was how it consolidated itself and this is its culture".

He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry in April 2005 and the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in February 2006. He also received the Municipal Medal of Merit, Gold Grade, from his hometown.