Socrates was elected as a member of the Portuguese Parliament in 1987. But he became increasingly popular after he served as Minister for Youth and Sports in 1997 and as Minister for Environment in 1999. In 2005, President Jorge Sampaio decided to dissolve the parliament, hoping to end political instabilities with fresh elections. Socrates, who by then headed the Socialist Party, won in a landslide victory. Socrates immediately set out to introduce labor reforms and improve the health system. He began to trim bureaucratic red tape, creating greater efficiencies. Many of his reforms, implemented over the course of 2006 and 2007, were instrumental in creating a better welfare system and financial stability in Portugal. The crime rate declined, infrastructure facilities improved and fiscal policies were revamped. But his initiatives also reduced pension incomes by 40%, and raised the retirement age. This led to protests by Trade Unions and civil servants, who recoiled at the introduction of these measures.

Yet, there was one shining beacon of reform, and that was the Technological Plan. Intended to raise Portugal’s competitiveness by improving its technological standing, the plan targeted three key investment areas – technology, innovation and knowledge. Through this plan, Socrates also rolled out measures to improve the quality of education. Apart from providing cheap laptops to school children, he introduced new policies for assessment and management of state schools. But no good deed goes unpunished. Socrates, yet again, was met with dissent. Teachers poured out onto the streets in March 2008, in what was the largest demonstration by teachers ever, in Portugal. Despite protests, Socrates managed to carry out his public sector reforms.

“Portugal faces difficult and demanding times which we must confront with a proper sense of national cohesion and solidarity.” Jose Socrates, 2010

But Socrates gained the most international admirers as the President of the European Union Council. Through his skillful negotiations, the Lisbon Treaty was put into force. “Europe, with the Lisbon Treaty will not only become stronger and more responsive to the hopes of European society and European economic needs, but also answer global challenges,” said an elated Socrates to Euronews. With these achievements, the 53-year-old Socrates was re-elected for a second term in the 2009 elections. By then, the global financial crisis had reached a boiling point and Portugal’s economy was struggling under a colossal debt and deficit. High rates of unemployment too plagued the economy, standing at 9.1% in September 2009, the highest level in 20 years. The Portuguese Republic recently celebrated its centennial on October 5th, but the fete was rather subdued due to the recently introduced austerity package. Under intense pressure from the EU to curb its budget deficit, the Socrates government outlined measures that included a 5% cut in civil servants’ wages and a value tax hike to 23% from 21%, commencing in 2011.

Known as the George Clooney of Portugal, Socrates will indeed need all his charms at this point, to implement his austerity package amidst the looming unrest. Most importantly, by 2013, he needs to bring down the deficit to below the 3% level set by the EU. Impeccably dressed as always, Socrates confidently told the New York Times, “We will do the job in three years. It is a difficult job, of course, but I am prepared to do it.” To a great extent, the future of Portugal now depends on a Socratic method of a different sort.