Miguel Luís Kolback da Veiga was born in Oporto on June 30th, 1936, where he died on November 14th, 2016.
An illustrious portuense lawyer, Miguel Veiga was famous for his careful, almost literary production of his procedural pieces and for the brilliant way he presented himself in court.
From early on, he integrated academic movements of opposition to the regime of Salazar, which prevented him years later to be admitted as a university professor.
After the April revolution, in May 1974, he was responsible, alongside with Francisco Sá Carneiro, Magalhaes Mota and Francisco Pinto Balsemão, for the founding of the Popular Democratic Party, now Social Democratic Party, of which he was a member until his death and one of its most brilliant members, even when in order to disagree directly with the course followed. Therefore, against the indications of his party, he was a supporter of Mário Soares in his first candidacy for President of the Republic and, more recently, Rui Moreira, current mayor of Porto.
Although requested to do so, he never exercised governmental functions. He said, in response to invitations received, “not wanting to lose his freedom or leave Oporto,” city of his passion.
Alongside his work, civic and political intervention of high level, Miguel Veiga was still a lover of the arts, from literature to painting, from cinema to sculpture, collecting contributions that often illustrated his public interventions.
The name of Miguel Veiga is important to the history of portuguese democracy, for the search and affirmation of the values of freedom and justice, for the frontality, independence and firmness of character that is so much a part of the good men of Oporto.
Miguel Veiga was also the author of several legal and cultural essays, and a voice present in the written press where throughout his life he collaborated.
He is Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty and received the Medal of Honor from the City, the highest distinction of Porto.
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