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Former Macau governor Melo Egídio passes away

07/12/2011 20:28:00
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image General Melo Egídio (File photo: ca. 1995)

Nuno Viriato Tavares de Melo Egídio, who was governor of Macau from 1979 to 1981, passed away yesterday morning in Portugal. According to Portuguese news agency Lusa, the 89-year-old was hospitalised in a healthcare facility in the capital, Lisboa.
The general became Macau governor in 1979, replacing Garcia Leandro. He was also the first governor to visit mainland China in 1980, about a year after Portugal and Beijing had resumed diplomatic relations.
Back in Portugal Melo Egídio became the head of the country’s Armed Forces in 1981, replacing general António Ramalho Eanes, who at the time was also the Portuguese president.
Melo Egídio took up this position until 1984. He was the first head of the Portuguese Armed Forces to stay away from the political activities since 1974, when a military coup put an end to an authoritarian regime and led to democracy.

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