João Soares

Who is João Soares?

João Barroso Soares is a Portuguese lawyer and politician, member of the Socialist Party, and was Parliamentary and President of The Municipality of Lisbon.

He is the son of the former Portuguese Prime Minister and President, Mário Soares, and the actress Maria Barroso. He was married to Maria Olímpia Soares, daughter of António Domingos de Oliveira Soares and wife Clotilde Soares, by whom he had three children: Maria Inês, Maria Mafalda and Mário Alberto. Later divorced, he married the Belgian Annick Burhenne, by whom he had a son Jonas, named after Jonas Savimbi, of whom João Soares is an admirer, and a daughter Lilah.

He was member of the European Parliament and of the Portuguese State Council.

In 2004, he lost to Manuel Alegre and José Sócrates a bid for the party leadership, and in October 2005 lost to Fernando Seara the election for President of the Municipality of Sintra. He also lost the election for president of the Municipality of Lisbon to Pedro Santana Lopes, in 2001, being the first mayor of Lisboa to lose a reelection.

In July 2008 he was elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. He was reelected for another one year term in July 2009.