António Ramalho Eanes
António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes (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.
António Ramalho Eanes | |
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![]() António Ramalho Eanes in 2019 | |
President of Portugal | |
In office 14 July 1976 – 9 March 1986 | |
Prime Minister | José Pinheiro de Azevedo Mário Soares Alfredo Nobre da Costa Carlos Mota Pinto Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo Francisco Sá Carneiro Francisco Pinto Balsemão Aníbal Cavaco Silva |
Preceded by | Francisco da Costa Gomes |
Succeeded by | Mário Soares |
President of the Democratic Renewal Party | |
In office 19 October 1986 – 29 May 1988 | |
Vice President | Hermínio Martinho |
Preceded by | Hermínio Martinho |
Succeeded by | Hermínio Martinho |
President of the Revolutionary Council | |
In office 14 July 1976 – 30 September 1982 | |
Preceded by | Francisco da Costa Gomes |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Chief of the Armed Forces General Staff | |
In office 14 July 1976 – 16 February 1981 | |
Preceded by | Francisco da Costa Gomes |
Succeeded by | Nuno de Melo Egídio |
Chair of Radio and Television of Portugal | |
In office 28 October 1974 – 11 March 1975 | |
Preceded by | Casimiro Gomes |
Succeeded by | João António de Figueiredo |
Personal details | |
Born | António dos Santos Ramalho Eanes 25 January 1935 Alcains, Castelo Branco, Portugal |
Political party | Independent |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Renewal Party (1986–87) |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Military Academy |
Signature | ![]() |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1952–1986 |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars | Portuguese Colonial War |
Background
Born at Alcains, Castelo Branco, he is the son of Manuel dos Santos Eanes, a general contractor, and wife Maria do Rosário Ramalho.
Political 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), and continued to support Social Democratic Party (PSD) minority government until 1987. He resigned in 1987 after defeated by PSD in legislative election.
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)
Foreign:
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
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
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 |