António Vitorino
Encyclopedia
António Vitorino is a Portuguese
politician and member of the Socialist Party
(PS).
, returning in 1989 to become a judge of the Constitutional Court.
In 1995, he became minister for defence and deputy prime minister in the first government of António Guterres
. He resigned in 1997 for being suspected of tax evasion
. After being cleared of the charges, he was appointed European Commission
er for Justice and Home Affairs.
In 2004, Vitorino refused to run for leader of the Socialist Party after the resignation of Ferro Rodrigues
, despite being overwhelmingly the favourite candidate. José Sócrates
become the new leader of the party instead of Vitorino.
Vitorino also has an ongoing role as commentator for RTP 1
's programme Notas Soltas hosted by television journalist Judite de Sousa.
Vitorino serves as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project
.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
politician and member of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Portugal)
The Socialist Party , abbreviated to PS, is a social-democratic political party in Portugal. It was founded on 19 April 1973 in the German city of Bad Münstereifel, by militants from Portuguese Socialist Action ....
(PS).
Career
Vitorino graduated in law from the University of Lisbon. A lawyer by training, he was first elected to Parliament in 1980. He was part of the Portuguese administration in MacauMacau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, returning in 1989 to become a judge of the Constitutional Court.
In 1995, he became minister for defence and deputy prime minister in the first government of António Guterres
António Guterres
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, GCC is a Portuguese politician, a former prime minister and President of the Socialist International. Currently he is the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.-Early life:...
. He resigned in 1997 for being suspected of tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. After being cleared of the charges, he was appointed European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
er for Justice and Home Affairs.
In 2004, Vitorino refused to run for leader of the Socialist Party after the resignation of Ferro Rodrigues
Ferro Rodrigues
Eduardo Luís Barreto Ferro Rodrigues is a Portuguese politician and economist.He was Minister for Social Security, and later for Public Works in the governments of António Guterres....
, despite being overwhelmingly the favourite candidate. José Sócrates
José Sócrates
José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, GCIH , commonly known by José Sócrates , is a Portuguese politician who was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 12 March 2005 to 21 June 2011....
become the new leader of the party instead of Vitorino.
Vitorino also has an ongoing role as commentator for RTP 1
RTP 1
RTP1 is the first television network of Rádio e Televisão de Portugal, the Portuguese public broadcasting corporation. The first television network ever launched in Portugal, RTP1 was launched in 1957 as RTP , and also having a brief period while it was known and marketed as Canal 1...
's programme Notas Soltas hosted by television journalist Judite de Sousa.
Vitorino serves as an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project
World Justice Project
-Mainstreaming:The World Justice Project holds action-oriented meetings with leaders from a range of fields to mainstream rule of law advancement and make strengthening the rule of law as fundamental to the thinking and work of all professionals as it is to lawyers...
.