19 Facts About Fernando Rosas

Fernando Jose Mendes Rosas was born on 18 April 1946 and is a Portuguese historian, professor and politician, being one of the founders of the Left Bloc.

Fernando Rosas studied at Pedro Nunes secondary school, and in 1961, he joined the school's Portuguese Communist Party organization, a party for which he was later a militant.

Fernando Rosas entered University of Lisbon's Faculty of Law where he remained an active militant.

Fernando Rosas was arrested in the repressive wave of January, 1965, while he was directing the student association of his Faculty.

Fernando Rosas served one year and three months at a correctional facility.

Fernando Rosas participated in Portugal's first public protest against the Vietnam War, supported by sectors that were linked to the Students' Democratic Left-Wing, organization which he helped found in late 1968.

Fernando Rosas participated in the second protest.

Fernando Rosas was submitted to sleep torture for several days and then the regime's courts convicted him to 14 months at a correctional facility.

Fernando Rosas represented this organization both times Ramalho Eanes ran for the presidency.

Fernando Rosas was later expelled from the party in 1980.

In 1999, with Francisco Louca from the PSR, Luis Fazenda from the UDP and Miguel Portas from Politics XXI, Fernando Rosas became one of the founders of the Left Bloc, becoming the leader of its Permanent Commission.

Fernando Rosas was a candidate in the 2001 presidential election, being supported by the Left Bloc.

Fernando Rosas was reelected in 2009, resigning to his seat in 2010 to dedicate himself to teaching and research as a historian.

In 1981, Fernando Rosas returned to University and began dedicating himself to journalism as a profession.

Fernando Rosas coordinated the history page of Diario de Noticias and its cultural supplement.

Fernando Rosas served as the president of the Institute of Contemporary History between 1994 and 2013, historical consultant for the Mario Soares Foundation and the director of Historia magazine between 1994 and 2007.

Fernando Rosas was invited to be assistant professor by the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of NOVA University of Lisbon, becoming a cathedratic professor in 2003.

In 2019, Fernando Rosas became professor emeritus of the NOVA FCSH, the first person to receive that honour.

Fernando Rosas is a member of the Executive Commission of the Resistance and Freedom National Museum at the Peniche Fortress, where he was arrested during the Estado Novo regime.