Francisco Pinto Balsemão, former Prime Minister and founder of the Impresa group, owner of SIC and Expresso, passed away this Tuesday at the age of 88. A central figure in Portuguese politics and a pioneer in journalism, he leaves an indelible mark on democracy and media in Portugal.
On September 1, 2025, his 88th birthday, Pinto Balsemão was decorated by the President of the Republic with the Grã-Cruz da Ordem de Camões. This was the latest in an extensive list of awards and distinctions he received throughout his life.
In the Genesis of Freedom
His democratic legacy began even before the April 25 Revolution, in the Ala Liberal. After the Revolution, he founded the PPD (now PSD) alongside Francisco Sá Carneiro and Joaquim Magalhães Mota.
In 1980, he took on the role of Minister of State and Assistant to the Prime Minister. Following the tragic death of Sá Carneiro, Francisco Pinto Balsemão led the VII and VIII Constitutional Governments from 1981 to 1983. His terms were marked by the crucial role he played in preparing Portugal's entry into the EEC, especially through the 1982 constitutional revision.
From Print to Screen, at the Forefront of Journalism
In journalism, after a notable and innovative stint at Diário Popular, he founded Expresso, a weekly that quickly became a symbol of press freedom in Portugal.
In the early 1990s, he pioneered the opening of television to the private sector, founding SIC in October 1992. His commitment to cutting-edge journalism deepened in 2001 with the launch of SIC Notícias, the first thematic news channel in Portugal.
Francisco Pinto Balsemão's legacy will remain inscribed in the History of Portugal, spanning decades of political, social, and media transformation. Between his dedication to journalism and his passion for freedom, he cultivated a sense of mission based on rigor and the "right to inform and be informed".
A protagonist of a journey made of discreet gestures and firm choices, he will echo as an example of democratic commitment and fidelity to the word. In the attentive gaze he cast over the country, the eternal mark remains of someone who never gave up thinking about Portugal and challenging it to be greater.
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