António Ramalho Eanes
António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes, GColL GCL GColTE CavA (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtɔniu ʁɐˈmaʎu iˈɐnɨʃ]; born 25 January 1935) is a Portuguese general and politician who was the 16th President of Portugal from 1976 to 1986.
Background
Born at Alcains, Castelo Branco, he is the son of António dos Santos Eanes, a general contractor, and wife Maria do Rosário Ramalho.
Career
After a long military career in the Portuguese Colonial Wars, he was stationed in Portuguese Angola when the 25 April revolution of 1974 took place. He joined the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA or Armed Forces Movement) and after returning to Portugal, he was made president of RTP (Portuguese public television). He ordered the military operations against the pro-communist radical faction of the MFA on 25 November 1975, an event known as the 25 de Novembro, ending that year's "hot summer" (Verão quente).
In 1976 he was elected President of Portugal. At the end of 1980 he was re-elected, serving until February 1986. After his presidency, he headed the Democratic Renewal Party (Portuguese: Partido Renovador Democrático), resigning in 1987.
He is also a Member of the Portuguese Council of State, as a former elected President of Portugal.
He rejected any suggestion of becoming a Marshal, considering the title unnecessary.
Decorations
National:
- Grand Collar of the Order of Liberty (18/12/2015)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty (25/04/2004)
- Grand Collar of the Order of the Tower and Sword (09/03/1986)
- Knight of the Order of Aviz (19/01/1972)
Family
He married at the Palace of Queluz on 28 October 1970 to Maria Manuela Duarte Neto de Portugal Ramalho Eanes (b. 29 December 1938), who was one of Portugal's most politically active First Ladies, making speeches at Democratic Renewal Party rallies while her husband was president. They had two sons, Manuel António (b. 5 May 1972) and Miguel (b. 1977).
Electoral results
1976 Portuguese presidential election
Summary of the 27 June 1976 Portuguese presidential election results
| Candidates | Supporting parties | First round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| António Ramalho Eanes | Independent | 2,967,137 | 61.59 | |
| Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho | Independent | 692,147 | 14.37 | |
| José Pinheiro de Azevedo | Independent | 593,021 | 14.07 | |
| Octávio Rodrigues Pato | Portuguese Communist Party | 365,586 | 7.59 | |
| Total valid | 4,817,630 | 100.00 | ||
| Blank ballots | 43,242 | 0.89 | ||
| Invalid ballots | 20,253 | 0.41 | ||
| Total (turnout 75.47%) | 4,881,125 | |||
| Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições | ||||
1980 Portuguese presidential election
Summary of the 7 December 1980 Portuguese presidential election results
| Candidates | Supporting parties | First round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |||
| António Ramalho Eanes | Independent | 3,262,520 | 56.44 | |
| António Soares Carneiro | Democratic Alliance | 2,325,481 | 40.23 | |
| Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho | Independent | 85,896 | 1.49 | |
| Carlos Galvão de Melo | Independent | 48,468 | 0.84 | |
| António Pires Veloso | Independent | 45,132 | 0.78 | |
| António Aires Rodrigues | Workers Party of Socialist Unity | 12,745 | 0.22 | |
| Carlos Brito[A] | Portuguese Communist Party | left the race | ||
| Total valid | 5,780,242 | 100.00 | ||
| Blank ballots | 44,014 | 0.75 | ||
| Invalid ballots | 16,076 | 0.28 | ||
| Total (turnout 84.39%) | 5,840,332 | |||
| A He left the race in favor of Ramalho Eanes. | ||||
| Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições | ||||
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Costa Gomes |
President of Portugal 1976–1986 |
Succeeded by Mário Soares |
| ||||||||||||||||
|