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Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Portugal. She was born in Abrantes, in The Tagus Valley. She joined Aacao Catlica, Catholic Action, and eventually led the Catholic’s women student movement. After graduating from Lisbon’s Higher Technical Institute, with an engineering degree in industrial chemistry she attended a graduate scholarship program with the National Nuclear Energy Board. She led Portugal’s Program for development and social change. She was appointed Secretary of State for Social Welfare. She then became Minister of Social Affairs and one year later, Portugal’s first Ambassador to UNESCO. In 1979, she was called on by General Antonio Ramljo Eanes, the President of Portugal, to become Prime Minister. She left her mark by making social security universal and improving health care, education and labor legislation in Portugal. Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo died of cardiac arrest at her home on July 10th, 2004.
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