Guterres, António Manuel de Oliveira (1949– )

Portuguese socialist politician and prime minister 1995–2002, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005. Not only one of the most popular leaders in any European Union (EU) country, Guterres was also one of the most admired of Europe's breed of centre-left modernizers who made their political mark in the late 1990s. Soon after becoming prime minister in 1995 it became clear that Guterres intended to keep his political promises. The reforms he brought in improved public services and transport and drew a great deal of investment. He showed support for internationalism, cherishing his country's links with the North Atlantic and with Britain, particularly through membership of NATO. His unrelenting enthusiasm for both Europe and the euro saw through Portugal's entry into Europe's single currency, which Guterres considered his crowning achievement.

His easy manner was welcomed after the sternness of his conservative predecessor, Anibal Cavaco Silva. Guterres trained and worked as an electrical engineer, joining the Socialist Party in 1974, just when Portugal's long-lasting dictatorship was being overthrown. He served as an MP from 1976, chaired numerous parliamentary committees, was president of the Socialist Parliament Group 1988–91 and took over as leader of the Socialist Party in 1992.