Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão (; 1 September 1937 – 21 October 2025) was a Portuguese businessman, journalist, and politician, who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1981 to 1983.

Under the Estado Novo regime, Pinto Balsemão served in the National Assembly as part of the pro-democracy "Liberal Wing". In 1974, shortly after the Carnation Revolution, Pinto Balsemão co-founded the Social Democratic Party along with like-minded politicians Francisco Sá Carneiro and Joaquim Magalhães Mota.

During the Portuguese transition to democracy, Pinto Balsemão served in the Constituent Assembly, which was tasked with drafting a new constitution. Under prime minister Sá Carneiro, Pinto Balsemão served as a cabinet minister. After Sá Carneiro died in 1980, Pinto Balsemão succeeded him as prime minister in 1981, although political tension led him to leave office in 1983.

In addition to holding political office, Pinto Balsemão led the Impresa media group, founding the Expresso newspaper in 1973 and the SIC television network in 1992.

Background

Francisco Pinto Balsemão was born in Lisbon on 1 September 1937,

Career

Having earned a law degree from the University of Lisbon in 1960, Pinto Balsemão's pre-political career was in newspaper publishing. He was also the founder of Impresa media group.

In 1974, shortly after the Carnation Revolution, Pinto Balsemão, together with Sá Carneiro and Magalhães Mota, helped to found the Social Democratic Party (PSD), of which he was member number 1. In 1975 he was elected to the Constituent Assembly, He took office on 9 January 1981. These factors contributed to his resignation in December 1982, He had served as president of the Social Democratic Party from 13 December 1980 to 27 February 1983. From 2005, he was also a member of the Portuguese Council of State.

Personal life

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In 1964, Pinto Balsemão married Maria Isabel de Lacerda Rebelo Pinto da Costa Lobo, also known as "Belicha". The couple had two children, Mónica and Henrique.

Pinto Balsemão's second marriage was to Maria Mercedes Aliu Presas, also known as "Tita", of Spanish descent. She welcomed and integrated Francisco Maria into the family.

Honours

National

  • 55px Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (GCC, 8 June 1983)

Foreign

  • : Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (23 November 1981)