Amado, Luis

(1953- )

   Portuguese economist, public servant, and politician. Amado received a degree in economics from the Technical University of Lisbon. He spent much of his life in the Madeira Islands and has been a representative in their Regional Assembly. He has been a consultant, and has held posts as advisor to the Portuguese National Defense Institute, Lisbon, and as visiting professor at Georgetown University. He became a prominent figure in the leadership of the Socialist Party (PS) and served in Madeira's regional government also as a Member of the Assembly of the Republic, Lisbon. Since the mid-1990s, he has held various posts in the national government, including secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation (1995-97), deputy secretary of state of internal administration (1997-99), secretary of state for foreign affairs (1999-2000), minister of defense (2005-06) and was named minister of foreign affairs since July 2006. He has received decorations from Spain, France, Belgium, Greece, Gabon, and Argentina.