I was extremely distressed with the news of the passing away of Dr. Joaquim Magalhães Mota.

A renowned paramount civic personality, Dr. Magalhães Mota was one of the founders of Portuguese democracy.

A freedom fighter, a courageous politician in the defence of a western type of democracy for Portugal, a lawyer who fought for the cause of citizens’ rights, his example will remain as a model of a public personality, whose memory should forever be honoured.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva