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Uncompromising Socrates ready for leadership of EU

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates takes the reins of the EU presidency this weekend, bringing a reputation as a reformer and image-conscious politician not used to compromise.

The handover of the six-month rotating EU presidency from Germany to Portugal will take place on Sunday, a week after an EU summit reached a hard-fought deal on the outline of a new treaty, aimed at streamlining the expanded bloc's operations.

The drafting of the treaty will fall under Portugal's tenure at the EU helm led by the 49-year-old Socrates, who secured a landslide victory for his Socialist Party (PS) in 2005 legislative elections, promising economic revival.

Socrates describes himself as "sober and shy" to counter those who criticize him for being aloof and authoritarian.

In Lisbon, he has not earned a reputation for dialogue as the Portuguese head of government enjoys an absolute majority in parliament and no opposition within his party.

While Socrates embodies the party's moderate wing, the old guard Socialists consider him an "Armani politician," alluding to his penchant for designer suits.

Yet Socrates can also surprise observers with his unadorned side. Even on diplomatic trips he can been found out jogging in the early morning -- a ritual he never misses.

His full name is Jose Socrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, but after entering politics he dropped the family name and began using his middle name as his last name.

A civil engineer, Socrates joined the Socialist Party in 1981 and was first elected to parliament at the age of 30. He took over the leadership of the party in 2004 with the backing of 80 percent of they members and after the party's success at the polls was named prime minister in March 2005.

Socrates has not hesitated to make unpopular decisions, including raising the VAT, cutting 10 percent of the public workforce and ending automatic promotions.
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