Mário Soares

Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares (born December 7, 1924), Portuguese politician, was born in Lisbon, and graduated in history, philosophy and law from the University of Lisbon. He became a university lecturer in 1957, but his activities in opposition to the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar led to repeated arrests. He was active in resistance groups such as the Movement for Anti-Fascist National Unity and the Movement for Democratic Unity.

Early life

While a student at University, Soares joined the Portuguese Communist Party, being responsible for the youth section. In this capacity, he organised demonstrations in Lisbon to celebrate the end of WWII. He was first arrested by PIDE, the Portuguese political police, in 1946, when he was participating in the Central Committee of Movimento de Unidade Democrática (Movement for Democratic Unity), at the time chaired by Mário Azevedo Gomes. Soares was arrested twice in 1949. On those latter occasions, he was the secretary of General Norton de Matos, a candidate for the Presidency. However, he became estranged from Norton de Matos, when the latter discovered Soares's Communist sympathies.

Related Topics:
Portuguese Communist Party - Lisbon - WWII - PIDE - 1946 - Mário Azevedo Gomes - 1949 - Norton de Matos

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Soares married Maria de Jesus Barroso Soares, an actress, in February 1949, while in the Aljube prison. They have a daughter and a son, politician João Soares.

Related Topics:
Maria de Jesus Barroso Soares - 1949 - Aljube - João Soares

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Soares's multiple arrests for political activism made it impossible for him to continue with his career as a lecturer of history and philosophy. Therefore, he decided to study law and become an attorney.

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