Jorge Sampaio, who showed extent of Portuguese presidential powers, dies at 81

FILE PHOTO: Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio casts his vote in the general election in Lisbon, February 20, 2005, after he extraordinarily dissolved parliament and ordered an early vote due to instability in the centre-right government. REUTERS/Miguel Vida JR/GB/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Former Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio, who made national history in 2005 with an extraordinary use of his powers to dissolve parliament and oust an unstable majority government, died on Friday at the age of 81.

The cause of death was not disclosed, though Sampaio had been hospitalized since Aug. 27 with breathing difficulties.