Maria do Céu Antunes

Maria do Céu de Oliveira Antunes, previously known as Maria do Céu Albuquerque, is a Portuguese politician who served as the Minister of Agriculture from 2019 to 2024.
She has a degree in biochemistry from the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of the University of Coimbra and has a postgraduate degree in Quality Management and Food Safety from the Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz. In January 2022, she was elected to the Assembly of the Republic on the list of the victorious Socialist Party, as a representative of Santarém, and was reappointed as Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Before that, she had been Secretary of State for Regional Development in the XXI Constitutional Government of February 18 to October 26, 2019, and President of the Municipality of Abrantes for 9 years.

Controversies

Jorge Ferreira Dias case

During her 9-year term as Mayor of Abrantes, Maria do Céu Albuquerque got involved in controversies with construction entrepreneur Jorge Ferreira Dias, over land disputes. This case became more visible through the reporting of Ana Leal on TVI.

Personal life

Antunes was married and has 2 daughters. During her marriage she adopted her husband's surname, Albuquerque. After divorcing in 2020, she returned to using her maiden name.