Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal Dr Antonio Costa will be the Chief Guest at the 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention at Bengaluru in Karnataka. 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is scheduled to be held from 7 to 9 January, 2017.
He will participate in the inaugural session of the PBD Convention on 8 January and address the delegates.
Dr Antonio Costa António Luís Santos da Costa, GCIH (born 17 July 1961) is a Portuguese lawyer and the Prime Minister of Portugal, in office since 26 November 2015. Previously he was Minister of Parliamentary Affairs from 1997 to 1999, Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2002, Minister of State and Internal Administration from 2005 to 2007, and Mayor of Lisbon from 2007 to 2015. He was elected as Secretary-General of the Socialist Party in September 2014.
Early Life and Education
Costa was born in 1961 in São Sebastião da Pedreira, Lisbon, the son of writer Orlando da Costa. His father was of Goan, Portuguese, and French descent. His mother was Maria Antónia Palla, a Portuguese journalist and recognized feminist activist.
Costa studied law in the 1980s in Lisbon, when he first entered politics and was elected as a Socialist deputy to the municipal council. He later practiced law briefly from 1988, before entering politics full-time.
Political Career
Costa’s first role in a Socialist government was as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs under Prime Minister António Guterres between 1997 and 1999. He was Minister of Justice from 1999 to 2002.
Costa was a Member of the European Parliament for the Socialist Party (PES), heading the list for the 2004 European elections after the dramatic death of top candidate António de Sousa Franco. On 20 July 2004 he was elected as one of the 14 Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament. He also served on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Costa resigned as an MEP on 11 March 2005 to become Minister of State and Internal Administration in the government of José Sócrates following the 2005 national elections.
With inputs from Embassy of India, Lisbon, Portugal
