Politician. He served as the eighteenth President of the Portuguese Republic from March 9,1996 until March 9, 2006. He was a member of the Socialist Party of Portugal, of which he was Secretary-General between 1989 and 1992. He served for two terms winning his second term in 2001. As President, he was focused on social and cultural affairs. It was generally perceived that his presidency was marked by a firm sense of prudence and moderation. He was defeated for his third term bid in 2006 by the individual he had beaten in 1996. His parents were Arnaldo de Sampaio, a physician and his mother was Fernanda Bensaúde Branco. He had one brother, Daniel Sampaio. As a young child, he attended the American School of Lisbon. As a college student he attended and graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. After graduating in 1961, he started practicing law by defending political prisoners. At the time of his death, he was married to his second wife, the former First Lady Maria José Rodrigues Ritta Sampaio, with whom he had two children: Vera Ritta de Sampaio and André Ritta de Sampaio. During his political career, he held four other political offices: Leader of the Opposition (1988 to 1992), Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (1989 to 1992), Mayor of Lisbon (1990 to 1995) and High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (2007 to 2013).
Politician. He served as the eighteenth President of the Portuguese Republic from March 9,1996 until March 9, 2006. He was a member of the Socialist Party of Portugal, of which he was Secretary-General between 1989 and 1992. He served for two terms winning his second term in 2001. As President, he was focused on social and cultural affairs. It was generally perceived that his presidency was marked by a firm sense of prudence and moderation. He was defeated for his third term bid in 2006 by the individual he had beaten in 1996. His parents were Arnaldo de Sampaio, a physician and his mother was Fernanda Bensaúde Branco. He had one brother, Daniel Sampaio. As a young child, he attended the American School of Lisbon. As a college student he attended and graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon. After graduating in 1961, he started practicing law by defending political prisoners. At the time of his death, he was married to his second wife, the former First Lady Maria José Rodrigues Ritta Sampaio, with whom he had two children: Vera Ritta de Sampaio and André Ritta de Sampaio. During his political career, he held four other political offices: Leader of the Opposition (1988 to 1992), Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (1989 to 1992), Mayor of Lisbon (1990 to 1995) and High-Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (2007 to 2013).
Bio by: Danny Hackney
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