Following the passing of Portugal’s former Deputy Prime Minister and founder of European People’s Party (EPP) member party CDS-PP, Diogo Freitas do Amaral, the EPP President, Joseph Daul made the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Diogo Freitas do Amaral. Portugal has lost a leading political figure who helped consolidate the country’s democracy; the EPP mourns a staunch defender of Christian democracy. My thoughts are with his family, the members of CDS-PP and all the Portuguese people.

Founder of the CDS-PP, Diogo Freitas do Amaral shaped Portugal’s political landscape and ensured that Christian democratic values had an important place in the newly established democracy.

After the fall of the Portuguese dictatorship, he was a strong advocate of European integration for his country. He also played an instrumental role in defending our shared ideals across Europe as chairman of the European Union of Christian Democrats (UEDC), an organisation that preceded the EPP. Diogo Freitas do Amaral remained true to his European convictions throughout his life. We are proud to carry on his legacy.”

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