Hélder Sousa Silva has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2024. He is a full member of the Committee on Budgets, a full member of the Conference of Delegation Chairpersons, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil, and a full member of the Delegation for Mercosur Relations. He also serves as a substitute member of the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Security and Defence.

Before joining the European Parliament, he served as Mayor of Mafra, Vice-President of the Lisbon Metropolitan Council, Vice-President of the Board of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities, President of the Lisbon District Civil Protection Commission, a member of the European Committee of the Regions, and President of the Social-Democrat Mayors Association.

Born in Mafra, Portugal, on July 21, 1965, Hélder Sousa Silva is a PhD candidate in Strategic Studies at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences, University of Lisbon. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, and a postgraduate degree in Security and Defence. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering (IST) and in Military Sciences, Communications Branch, from the Military Academy.

He previously served as a Member of the Portuguese Parliament (XII Legislature) and as a Municipal Councillor of Mafra. He has extensive professional experience as Director of Technical Services at the National Fire and Civil Protection Service, an Army Officer, and a university lecturer.