Quick Facts
Biography
Eduardo Luís Barreto Ferro Rodrigues (born 3 November 1949) is a Portuguese politician and economist who has been President of the Assembly of the Republic since 2015. He was Minister for Social Security, and later Minister for Public Works, in the governments of António Guterres.
Early life and education
Born in Lisbon, he obtained the degree of licenciado in economics at what today is the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (ISEG) of Lisbon University, and is a lecturer in economics at ISCTE - University Institute of Lisbon.
Political career
In 2002, Ferro Rodrogues was elected Secretary-General of the Portuguese Socialist Party, a position he retained for two years. He resigned on 9 July 2004, immediately after President Jorge Sampaio announced a decision not to hold early elections when Prime Minister José Manuel Barroso stepped down from office in order to be appointed President of the European Commission. Shortly after, Rodrigues was appointed as Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the OECD.
Following the October 2015 parliamentary election, he was elected as President of the Assembly of the Republic on 23 October 2015 with the support of the Socialists, the Communists and the Left Bloc. Ferro received 120 votes against 108 votes for the candidate of the centre-right government.
Family
Married to Maria Filomena Lopes Peixoto de Aguiar, he has two children, João Luís de Aguilar Ferro Rodrigues and a daughter, television presenter Rita Ferro Rodrigues.
Honours
Grand Cross of the Order of May, Merit Class, Argentina (18 June 2003)
Grand Cross of the Order of May, Merit Class, Argentina (18 June 2003)