The Diplomat
The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, awarded the “Order of Prince Henry the Navigator” to José Luis Rodríguez García, President of New Economy Forum, on Friday, November 28. This order is bestowed by the Portuguese State upon individuals for services to Portugal and its expansion, or for services to humanity and human rights.
The ceremony took place at the Belém Palace in Lisbon, the official residence of the President of the Portuguese Republic, and was attended by the Spanish Ambassador, Juan Fernández-Trigo, as reported by New Economy Forum in a press release. The Portuguese President will make his second state visit to Spain next December.
In his speech, President Rebelo de Sousa highlighted José Luis Rodríguez’s professional and academic career, making special mention of the work carried out by New Economy Forum, the debate organization he founded and has chaired for twenty-five years. In this regard, he emphasized “the Forum’s role as a meeting place, open to all ideas, pluralistic and non-partisan, with a great capacity to bring people together, as well as its demonstrated commitment to collaboration between Portugal and Spain.”
Since its creation in 1960, a large number of international figures have been awarded the “Order of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal,” including King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, Baudouin of Belgium, Hosni Mubarak, François Mitterrand, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Beatrix of the Netherlands, Masako of Japan, Lech Walesa, Nelson Mandela, José María Aznar, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Juan Ignacio Zoido.
