The President of the Republic presented, this Saturday, “the most sincere feelings to the family” of Júlio Castro Caldas, former Minister of Defense in the Government of António Guterres, who passed away today.
“The President of the Republic expresses the most sincere feelings to the family of Júlio Castro Caldas, who has just left us,” reads the note about the death of Arcos de Valdevez’s natural lawyer.
Julio Castro Caldas was a native of Arcos de Valdevez. Image via RTP
–
The head of state recalls that Castro Caldas was “founder of Sedes, deputy of the Democratic Alliance between 1980 and 1983 and a history of the PSD, with great political activity from April 25, 1974 to November 25, 1975, later approached of the PS, having been Minister of National Defense of António Guterres; while Chairman of the Bar also stood out for defending freedom and democracy. ”
“Remembering the old friendship, the President of the Republic pays him a tribute”, concludes the text posted today on the website of the Presidency of the Republic.
Castro Caldas “died this morning” and no details are yet known about the funeral funerals, the official source of the Bar Association told Lusa.
Castro Caldas was Minister of Defense in the second government of António Guterres between 1999 and 2001 and president of the Portuguese Bar Association in two terms, from 1993 to 1999.
Prior to being a minister, Júlio Castro Caldas had been a deputy in parliament between 1980 and 1983, after being elected by the PSD in the Viana do Castelo constituency.
The former ruler was one of the founding partners of CLA – Advogados and also, within the ambit of law, president of the Federation des Barreaux d’Europe (1997-1999), assistant treasurer of the General Council of the Bar (1983/1985) and Member of the District Council of the Bar (1977/1980).
Between November 2001 and 2012, Castro Caldas served as a member of the Superior Council of the Public Prosecution Service.
The former Minister of Defense, who graduated in law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, also founded the association SEDES and the Portuguese Arbitration Society.
At the same time, he was a member of the Portuguese Water Resources Association and a member of AIDA Portugal – Portuguese Section of the International Insurance Law Association.
António Costa highlights generosity and political dedication
The secretary general of the PS highlighted Júlio Castro Caldas as a “very generous man” and “always dedicated and politically committed”, noting that “he misses a lot”.
“He was a great professional, a very generous man, always dedicated and politically committed”, namely as Minister of Defense of the Government of António Guterres, “said António Costa in Porto, speaking to reporters at the entrance of the meeting of the National Socialist Commission.
The socialist leader also said that Castro Caldas was his “patron” in law.
“He was a person for whom I had great admiration,” noted the also Prime Minister.
Defense Minister Mourns Death of “Defender of the Public Interest”
Defense Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho lamented the death of Castro Caldas, who he described as a “brilliant man, always a defender of the public interest.”
“I deeply regret the death of Julio Castro Caldas, former Minister of Defense. I had the privilege of working with him as a representative of the Portuguese State at OGMA [Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal]”Said Gomes Cravinho in a post on the social network Twitter.
Bar Association expresses “deepest regret”
The Bar Association expressed “deepest regret” over the death of former president and defense minister Júlio Castro Caldas and presented “heartfelt condolences to the family”.
“The President Dr. Guilherme Figueiredo and the General Council express their deepest regret over the death of the President Júlio Castro Caldas and offer condolences to the family,” reads a note published on the website of the Bar.
–
