Profile Text
Birth Name: António Luís Santos da Costa
Place of Birth: São Sebastião da Pedreira, Lisbon, Portugal
Date of Birth: 17 July, 1961
Ethnicity: Portuguese, French, Konkani Goan
António Costa is a Portuguese lawyer and politician. He has served as Prime Minister of Portugal, from 26 November, 2015 to 2 April, 2024, and President of the European Council, since 1 December, 2024. He has also been Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, from 27 November, 1997 to 25 October, 1999, Minister of Justice, from 25 October, 1999 to 6 April, 2002, Minister of Internal Administration, from 12 March, 2005 to 17 May, 2007, Mayor of Lisbon, from 1 August, 2007 to 6 April, 2015, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, from 22 November, 2014 to 7 January, 2024, and Leader of the Opposition, from 22 November, 2014 to 26 November, 2015; as well as, a Member of the Assembly of the Republic for Lisbon, from 4 November, 1991 to 26 October, 1995, for Leiria, from 5 April, 2002 to 9 March, 2005, and for Lisbon, from 23 October, 2015 to 26 March, 2024, and a Member of the European Parliament, from 20 July, 2004 to 11 March, 2005.
His father, Orlando António Fernandes da Costa, was a writer, and was of Konkani Goan, Portuguese, and French descent. His mother, Maria Antónia de Assis dos Santos Palla e Carmo, is a Portuguese journalist and recognized feminist activist. He is married to teacher Fernanda Maria Gonçalves Tadeu, with whom he has two children.
Prime Minister Costa’s paternal grandfather was Luís Afonso Maria da Costa (the son of João José da Costa and Genoveva Emerenciana Álvares). Genoveva was the daughter of Camilo Dionísio Álvares and Quiteria Epifania da Costa.
Prime Minister Costa’s paternal grandmother was Amélia Maria Fréchaut Fernandes (the daughter of Tito Quirino do Rosário Fernandes and Joaquina Maria Paulo Fréchaut). Amélia was born in Mozambique, and was of French descent. Joaquina was the daughter of José Paulo Fréchaut.
Prime Minister Costa’s maternal grandfather was named Ítalo Ferrer dos Santos.
Prime Minister Costa’s maternal grandmother was named Angelina Panico Assis.
Source: Genealogy of António Costa – https://www.geni.com