Manuel Alegre de Melo Duarte (born 12 May 1936) is a Portuguese

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. He was a candidate to the presidency of the Portuguese Republic in

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

and

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

, finishing in second place in both elections. For his literary work, he was awarded the

Camões Prize The Camões Prize (, ), named after Luís de Camões, is the most prestigious prize for literature in the Portuguese language. The prize was established in 1989 and is supported by the governments of Brazil and Portugal. It is awarded annually to ...

in 2017.

Background

He is the son of Francisco José de Faria e Melo Ferreira Duarte, brother of sportsman Mário Duarte, son of the 1st

Baroness Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knight ...

of ''a'' Recosta, maternal grandson of the 1st

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

of Cadoro and matrilineal great-grandson of the 1st

Viscount A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status. The status and any domain held by a viscount is a viscounty. In the case of French viscounts, the title is ...

of ''o'' Barreiro, and wife Maria Manuela Alegre. His sister Maria Teresa Alegre de Melo Duarte is also a Deputy and is the widow of another Deputy, António Jorge Moreira Portugal (1931–1994). Their son is

journalist A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, advertis ...

Manuel Alegre Portugal. As he once stated, his ancestors were

hanged Hanging is killing a person by suspending them from the neck with a noose or ligature strangulation, ligature. Hanging has been a standard method of capital punishment since the Middle Ages, and has been the primary execution method in numerou ...

and

beheaded Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common c ...

at the Praça Nova,

Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...

, during the

Liberal Wars The Liberal Wars (), also known as the Portuguese Civil War () and the War of the Two Brothers () was a civil war in Portugal that lasted from May 1828 to May 1834, fought between liberal progressive constitutionalists (led by former King P ...

Career

He was a member of the

Portuguese Communist Party The Portuguese Communist Party (, , PCP) is a Communism, communist and Marxism–Leninism, Marxist–Leninist List of political parties in Portugal, political party in Portugal. It is one of the strongest List of communist parties, communist par ...

from his youth until the Soviet invasion of

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

, which he staunchly opposed, in 1968. Today he's usually considered one of the most leftist members of the Portuguese

Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of th ...

. He voted against all the revisions of the

Portuguese Constitution The present Constitution of Portugal - officially the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic - was adopted in 1976 after the Carnation Revolution. It was preceded by a number of constitutions including the first one created in 1822 (followin ...

of 1976, and abstained at a commemorative vote for the 10th anniversary of the fall of

Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall (, ) was a guarded concrete Separation barrier, barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (GDR; East Germany). Construction of the B ...

, in 1999. While studying

law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been variously described as a science and as the ar ...

at the

University of Coimbra The University of Coimbra (UC; , ) is a Public university, public research university in Coimbra, Portugal. First established in Lisbon in 1290, it went through a number of relocations until moving permanently to Coimbra in 1537. The university ...

, Alegre was noticed for his opposition to

António de Oliveira Salazar António de Oliveira Salazar (28 April 1889 – 27 July 1970) was a Portuguese statesman, academic, and economist who served as Portugal's President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal, President of the Council of Ministers from 1932 to 1 ...

's dictatorial government - the Estado Novo regime. He was

conscript Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it contin ...

ed, and sent to the

Azores The Azores ( , , ; , ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atl ...

and later to

Portuguese Angola In southwestern Africa, Portuguese Angola was a historical Evolution of the Portuguese Empire, colony of the Portuguese Empire (1575–1951), the overseas province Portuguese West Africa of Estado Novo (Portugal), Estado Novo Portugal (1951–1 ...

, where his involvement in an attempt to military rebellion led to his imprisonment. After serving his prison term in

Luanda Luanda ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Angola, largest city of Angola. It is Angola's primary port, and its major industrial, cultural and urban centre. Located on Angola's northern Atlantic coast, Luanda is Ang ...

, he returned to

Coimbra Coimbra (, also , , or ), officially the City of Coimbra (), is a city and a concelho, municipality in Portugal. The population of the municipality at the 2021 census was 140,796, in an area of . The fourth-largest agglomerated urban area in Po ...

, before going into exile in 1964. As a student at the University of Coimbra he was a very active figure of the

Associação Académica de Coimbra The Associação Académica de Coimbra (AAC) is the students' union of the University of Coimbra (UC). Founded in Coimbra on November 3, 1887, it is the oldest students' union in Portugal. It is also the biggest Portuguese students' union belongin ...

, the university's student's union, while member of the governing body, athlete and cultural agent (poetry and theatre). He would never graduate in law. He would live the next ten years in

Algiers Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...

, where he was one of the main voices of a radio station directed to Portugal, Rádio Voz da Liberdade (''Freedom's Voice''), also called ''Rádio Argel'', from where he reportedly led a series of activities supporting African forces opposing the Portuguese military intervention in the

Portuguese Colonial War The Portuguese Colonial War (), also known in Portugal as the Overseas War () or in the Portuguese Empire, former colonies as the War of Liberation (), and also known as the Angolan War of Independence, Angolan, Guinea-Bissau War of Independence ...

, including by airing privileged information regarding Portuguese strategy in the theater of war. The distribution of his first books was forbidden by Salazar's government, so they circulated in

samizdat Samizdat (, , ) was a form of dissident activity across the Eastern Bloc in which individuals reproduced censored and underground makeshift publications, often by hand, and passed the documents from reader to reader. The practice of manual rep ...

form. Alegre returned to Portugal in 1974, one week after the

Carnation Revolution The Carnation Revolution (), code-named Operation Historic Turn (), also known as the 25 April (), was a military coup by military officers that overthrew the Estado Novo government on 25 April 1974 in Portugal. The coup produced major socia ...

. He joined the Socialisty Party almost immediately, and was elected to Parliament in every election from

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

. He was also one of the vice-presidents of Parliament. Several of his poems were made into songs, sung among others by

Zeca Afonso Zeca may refer to: * José Afonso (1929–1987), Portuguese folk and political musician also known mononymously as Zeca * Zeca (footballer, born 1946), full name Jose Luiz Ferreira Rodrigues, Brazilian football manager known mononymously as Zeca ...

and Adriano Correia de Oliveira, and played by Carlos Paredes. His words were set to music by Tony Haynes on world jazz ensemble

Grand Union Orchestra Grand Union Orchestra, also known as The Grand Union, is a multicultural World music, world jazz ensemble based in London. It has been performing, touring and recording large-scale shows for over 30 years and is well known for its educational work ...

's 1997 album, ''The Rhythm of Tides''. One of his poems ''Uma flor de verde pinho'' won 1976's ''Festival RTP da Canção'', who represented Portugal in

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

. In

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, he lost to José Sócrates a bid for the party leadership. In 2005, a statue in his honour was erected in

. On 24 September 2005, he announced that he would be a candidate in the 2006 Portuguese presidential election, despite his party's official support for former president

Mário Soares Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares (; 7 December 1924 – 7 January 2017) was a Portugal, Portuguese politician, who served as prime minister of Portugal from 1976 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985, and subsequently as the List of Presidents of P ...

as a candidate. On the elections held 22 January 2006, he ended up collecting 20.7% of the valid votes (the second largest amount after the elected President, Cavaco Silva, and ahead of his party's official candidate Mário Soares). He is also a Member of the

Portuguese Council of State The Council of State (, ) is a body established by the Portuguese Constitution to advise the President of the Republic in the exercise of many of his or her discretionary powers. History Although there are notices about the existence of a Counci ...

, elected by the Assembly of the Republic.

Decorations

Grand Cross of the

Order of Liberty The Order of Liberty, or the Order of Freedom (), is a Portuguese honorific civil order that distinguishes relevant services to the cause of democracy and freedom, in the defense of the values of civilization and human dignity. The order was cr ...

, Portugal (GCL, 19 May 1989) * PRT Order of Saint James of the Sword - Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the

Military Order of Saint James of the Sword The Military Order of Saint James of the Sword (), formerly known as the Ancient, Most Noble and Enlightened Military Order of Saint James of the Sword, of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merit (), is one of the four former ancient Portu ...

, Portugal (GCSE, 20 May 2016) * Grand Cross of the Order of Camões, Portugal (GCCa, 15 April 2024)

Family

He was once married to Isabel Sousa Pires, born in

Figueira da Foz Figueira da Foz (), officially Figueira da Foz City (), often called simply Figueira for short, is a city and a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. Practically at the midpoint of the Iberian Peninsula's Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coa ...

, without issue, and is now married to Mafalda Maria de Campos Durão Ferreira, born in

Lisbon Lisbon ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 567,131, as of 2023, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainlan ...

, 13 December 1947, daughter of António Durão Ferreira and wife Fernanda Furtado de Antas de Campos and only sister of António Miguel de Campos Durão Ferreira (b. 21 January 1946, unmarried), and has three children: * Francisco Durão Ferreira Alegre Duarte * Afonso Durão Ferreira Alegre Duarte (b. 1976) * Joana Durão Ferreira Alegre Duarte (b. 1985)

Electoral history

PS leadership election, 2004

, - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" ! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px", Candidate ! align="center" style="width: 50px", Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px", % , - , bgcolor=, , align=left , José Sócrates , align=right , 18,432 , align=right , 78.6 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left , Manuel Alegre , align=right , 3,903 , align=right , 16.7 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left , João Soares , align=right , 927 , align=right , 4.0 , - , colspan=2 align=left , Blank/Invalid ballots , align=right , 175 , align=right , 0.7 , - , - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" , colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" , Turnout , align=right , 23,437 , align=center , , - , colspan="4" align=left, Source: Resultados

Presidential election, 2006

, - ! colspan="2" , Candidate ! Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px", % , - , style="background:;", , align=left ,

Aníbal Cavaco Silva Aníbal António Cavaco Silva (; born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist and politician who served as the 19th president of Portugal, from 9 March 2006 to 9 March 2016, and as prime minister of Portugal, from 6 November 1985 to 25 October ...

, , 2,773,431 , , 50.5 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Manuel Alegre , , 1,138,297 , , 20.7 , - , style="background:;", , align=left ,

, , 785,355 , , 14.3 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Jerónimo de Sousa , , 474,083 , , 8.6 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Francisco Louçã , , 292,198 , , 5.3 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Garcia Pereira , , 23,983 , , 0.4 , - , colspan="2" align="left", Blank/Invalid ballots , 102,785 , , – , - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" , colspan="2" align="left", Turnout , 5,590,132 , , 61.53 , - , colspan="4" align=left, Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições

Presidential election, 2011

, - ! colspan="2" , Candidate ! Votes ! align="center" style="width: 50px", % , - , style="background:;", , align=left ,

, , 2,231,956 , , 53.0 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Manuel Alegre , , 831,838 , , 19.7 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Fernando Nobre , , 593,021 , , 14.1 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Francisco Lopes , , 301,017 , , 7.1 , - , style="background:#1F468B;", , align=left , José Manuel Coelho , , 189,918 , , 4.5 , - , style="background:;", , align=left , Defensor Moura , , 67,110 , , 1.6 , - , colspan="2" align="left", Blank/Invalid ballots , 277,593 , , – , - style="background-color:#E9E9E9" , colspan="2" align="left", Turnout , 4,492,453 , , 46.52 , - , colspan="4" align=left, Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições

Bibliography

Poetry * ''Praça da Canção'' (1965) * ''O Canto e as Armas'' (1967) * ''Um Barco para Ítaca'' (1971) * ''Letras'' (1974) * ''Coisa Amar, Coisas do Mar'' (1976) * ''Nova do Achamento'' (1979) * ''Atlântico'' (1981) * ''Babilónia'' (1983) * ''Chegar Aqui'' (1984) * ''Aicha Conticha'' (1984) * ''Obra Poética, Vol. I, O Canto e as Armas'' (1989) * ''Obra Poética, Vol. II, Atlântico'' (1989) * ''Rua de Baixo'' (1990) * ''A Rosa e o Compasso'' (1991) * ''Com que Pena'' (1992) * ''Sonetos do Obscuro Quê'' (1993) * ''Coimbra Nunca Vista'' (1995) * ''Trinta Anos de Poesia'' (1993) * ''As Naus de Verde Pinho'' (1996) * ''Alentejo e Ninguém'' (1996) * ''Che'' (1997) * ''Senhora das Tempestades'' (1998) * ''Pico'' (1998) * ''Rouxinol do Mundo'' (1998) * ''Obra Poética'' (1999) * ''Livro do Português Errante'' (2001) * ''Diálogos = Cristina Valada + Manuel Alegre'' (2001) Prose * ''Jornada de África'' (1989) * ''O Homem do País Azul'' (1989) * ''Alma'' (1995) * ''Contra a Corrente'' (1997) * ''A Terceira Rosa'' (1998) * ''Uma Carga de Cavalaria'' (1999) * ''Arte de Marear'' (2002) * ''Cão Como Nós'' (2002) * ''Um Velho em Arzila'' (2003) * ''Rafael'' (2004) * ''O Quadrado'' (2005) * ''Tudo é, e não é'' (2013)

References

External links