Editing Politics of Portugal

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{{Politics of Portugal}}
'''[[Politics]] in [[Portugal]]''' operates as a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[Multi-party system|multi-party]] [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[Representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]], whereby the [[Prime Minister of Portugal]] is the [[head of government]], and the [[President of Portugal]] is the non-executive [[head of state]] which, although it is a somewhat ceremonial figure,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17760433|title=Portugal profile - Leaders |publisher=BBC |access-date=8 July 2023|date=7 March 2017}}</ref> has some significant political powers they exercise often.<ref name="Presidency">[https://www.presidencia.pt/en/president-of-the-republic/duties-of-the-president/ Duties of the President&nbsp;– Head of State]. ''Official Page of the Presidency of the Portuguese Republic''. Retrieved 7 September 2021.</ref> [[Executive power]] is exercised by the [[Government of Portugal|Government]], whose leader is the prime minister. [[Legislative power]] is primarily vested in the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]] (the Portuguese [[parliament]]), although the government is also able to legislate on certain matters.<ref name="AR">[https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/en/paginas/default.aspx The ''Assembleia da República'' as a body that exercises sovereign power]. ''Assembleia da República''. Retrieved 7 September 2021.</ref> The [[Judiciary of Portugal]] is independent of the executive and the legislature. The President exerts a sort of "moderating power", not easily classified into any of the [[Separation of powers|traditional three branches of government]].<ref name="Presidency" />

Since 1975, the party system has been dominated by the social democratic [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] and the liberal-conservative [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]], but in the [[2024 Portuguese legislative election|2024 snap elections]], the far-right [[Chega (political party)|Chega]] managed to achieve 21% of seats in the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]].

According to the [[V-Dem Democracy Indices]] Portugal was, in 2023, the 20th most electoral democratic country in the world.<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

==Political background==
The national and regional governments are dominated by two political parties, the centre-left [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] (PS), a [[Social democracy|social-democratic]] party, and the centre-right, [[Liberal conservatism|liberal-conservative]] [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]] (PSD), which have similar basic policies in some respects: both are [[pro-European]], support [[NATO]] membership, [[welfare state]] and [[market economy]]. Other parties with seats in the parliament are [[Chega (political party)|Chega]], the [[Portuguese Communist Party]], the [[Left Bloc (Portugal)|Left Bloc]], the [[Ecologist Party "The Greens"]], [[LIVRE]], and [[People-Animals-Nature]]. The Communists and the Greens are in coalition as the [[Unitary Democratic Coalition]].

In the [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|Portuguese legislative election of 2011]], the PSD won enough seats to form a majority government with the [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] [[CDS – People's Party|People's Party]] (CDS-PP). The coalition, led by Prime Minister [[Pedro Passos Coelho]], was supported by a majority in the Parliament, with 132 of the 230 MPs. The major opposition party was the Socialist Party (the party of the former prime minister [[José Sócrates]], in office 2005–2011) with 74 MPs. Also represented were the Portuguese Communist Party (14 MPs), "The Greens" (2 MPs) and the Left Bloc (8 MPs), all to the left of the governing coalition.

In the [[2015 Portuguese legislative election|2015 elections]], which the PSD and  CDS-PP contested as a coalition, [[Portugal Ahead]], the government lost its absolute majority. The [[left-wing]] parties, the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]], [[Portuguese Communist Party]], [[Ecologist Party "The Greens"]], and Left Bloc, argued that as they were willing to form a coalition which would have a majority in the assembly, they ought to be invited to form the government, while [[Portugal Ahead]], as the largest grouping, argued that they should be invited to form the government. After three weeks of uncertainty, the President designated Passos Coelho as prime minister, which was followed by the formation of a minority government.  However, the plan was rejected by the Parliament. It was the shortest-lived Portuguese national government since the [[Carnation Revolution]]. Since then, the [[left-wing]] parties, led by the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] (PS), have formed the government. On 26 November 2015, there was established a PS minority government led by Prime Minister [[António Costa]].

In the Portuguese legislative [[2019 Portuguese legislative election|of 2019]], the centre-left PS of incumbent Prime Minister Costa obtained the largest share of the vote, and the most seats. On 26 October 2019, there was established a new PS minority government led by Prime Minister António Costa. In the snap [[2022 Portuguese legislative election|2022 election]] the ruling PS won an outright majority. Following the [[Operation Influencer]] police searches, in November 2023, António Costa resigned and snap elections were called for [[2024 Portuguese legislative election|10 March 2024]], which were won by the [[Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)|Democratic Alliance]].

==History==
[[File:Parlamento April 2009-1a.jpg|thumb|600px|center|The [[São Bento Palace]], home to the Portuguese [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]], in [[Lisbon]]]]

The first constitution was created in 1822 (following the [[Liberal Revolution of 1820]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://app.parlamento.pt/site_antigo/ingles/constitucionalism/const_monarchy/index.html#2 |title=The Constitutional Monarchy |publisher=Assembly of the Republic of Portugal |access-date=12 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022105528/http://app.parlamento.pt/site_antigo/ingles/constitucionalism/const_monarchy/index.html |archive-date=22 October 2013}}</ref> followed by a second in 1826, followed by a third in 1838 (after the [[Liberal Wars]]),<ref name="The Constitutional Monarchy">{{Cite web|url=http://app.parlamento.pt/site_antigo/ingles/constitucionalism/const_monarchy/index.html#2 |title=The Constitutional Monarchy |publisher=Assembly of the Republic of Portugal |access-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022105528/http://app.parlamento.pt/site_antigo/ingles/constitucionalism/const_monarchy/index.html |archive-date=22 October 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> a fourth in [[Constitution of Portugal (1911)|1911]] (following the [[5 October 1910 revolution]]),<ref name="The Constitutional Monarchy"/> and a fifth 1933 (after the [[28 May 1926 coup d'état]]).<ref name="The Constitutional Monarchy"/>

[[Portugal]]'s 25 April 1976 constitution reflected the country's 1974–76 move from authoritarian rule to provisional military government to a [[representative democracy]] with some initial [[Communism|Communist]] and [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] influence. The military coup in 1974, which became known as the [[Carnation Revolution]], was a result of multiple internal and external factors like the colonial wars that ended in removing the dictator, [[Marcelo Caetano]], from power.  The prospect of a communist takeover in Portugal generated considerable concern among the country's [[NATO]] allies.  The revolution also led to the country abruptly abandoning its colonies overseas and to the return of an estimated 600,000 Portuguese citizens from abroad. The 1976 constitution, which defined Portugal as a "Republic... engaged in the formation of a classless society," was revised in 1982, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2001, and 2004.

The 1982 revision of the constitution placed the military under strict [[Civilian control of the military|civilian control]], trimmed the powers of the president, and abolished the [[Revolutionary Council (Portugal)|Revolutionary Council]] (a military body with legislative veto and quasi-judicial powers).  The country [[Accession of Portugal to the European Union|joined the European Union]] in 1986, beginning a path toward greater economic and political integration with its richer neighbors in [[Europe]]. The 1989 revision of the constitution eliminated much of the remaining [[Marxism|Marxist]] rhetoric of the original document, abolished the communist-inspired "agrarian reform", and laid the groundwork for further privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media. The 1992 revision made it compatible with the [[Maastricht Treaty]].

The current Portuguese constitution provides for progressive administrative decentralization and calls for future reorganization on a regional basis. The [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]] archipelagos have constitutionally mandated autonomous status. A regional autonomy statute promulgated in 1980 established the Government of the Autonomous Region of the [[Azores]]; the Government of the Autonomous Region of [[Madeira]] operates under a provisional autonomy statute in effect since 1976. Apart from the Azores and Madeira, the country is divided into 18 districts, each headed by a governor appointed by the Minister of Internal Administration. [[Macau]], a former dependency, reverted to Chinese sovereignty in December 1999.

===I and II Constitutional Governments (1976–1978)===
The [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]], under the leadership of '''[[Mário Soares]]''', rose to power after the [[1976 Portuguese legislative election|1976 legislative elections]] and formed the I Constitutional Government. However, this government faced a lot of problems due to the country's economic situation, losing a [[1976 Portuguese legislative election#Fall of the government|vote of confidence in 1977]], and in 1978, the II Constitutional Government, a coalition between the Socialists and the [[CDS – People's Party|Democratic and Social Centre]], was sworn in. The coalition only lasted eight months and Mário Soares resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/mario-soares-exonerado-por-ramalho-eanes-da-lideranca-do-ii-governo-constitucional_v853600|title=Mário Soares exonerado por Ramalho Eanes da liderança do II Governo Constitucional |publisher=RTP|access-date=8 September 2015|date=25 August 1977|language=pt}}</ref>

===III, IV and V Constitutional Governments (1978–1980)===
President [[António Ramalho Eanes|Eanes]] then nominated the III Constitutional Government, under the leadership of '''[[Alfredo Nobre da Costa]]''', which was sworn in on late August 1978, but lasted just three months as it failed to gain Parliamentary support.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/programa-de-governo-de-nobre-da-costa-alvo-de-mocao-de-rejeicao_v853601|title=Programa de Governo de Nobre da Costa alvo de moção de rejeição|publisher=RTP|access-date=15 January 2024|date=23 October 2015|language=pt}}</ref>

The IV Constitutional Government, under the leadership of '''[[Carlos Mota Pinto]]''', was sworn in on late November 1978, but, like the previous government, lasted very little, eight months, due to its failure to pass policies in Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/razoes-da-demissao-de-mota-pinto_a853789|title=Razões da demissão de Mota Pinto|publisher=RTP|access-date=15 January 2024|date=8 September 2015|language=pt}}</ref>

The president then swore in the V Constitutional Government, under the leadership of '''[[Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo]]''', the first and still only female prime minister in Portuguese history. The government managed the country until the early elections of [[1979 Portuguese legislative election|December 1979]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/tomada-de-posse-do-v-governo-constitucional/|title=Tomada de posse do V Governo Constitucional|publisher=RTP|access-date=15 January 2024|date=1 August 1979|language=pt}}</ref>

===VI, VII, VIII Constitutional Governments (1980–1983)===
The [[Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 1979)|Democratic Alliance]], under the leadership of '''[[Francisco Sá Carneiro]]''', won the [[1979 Portuguese legislative election|1979 legislative elections]] by a big margin and the VI Constitutional Government was sworn in in January 1980. Sá Carneiro's tenure was short lived as he died in a tragic [[1980 Camarate air crash|plane crash]] in December 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/sa-carneiro-morre-em-acidente-de-aviacao_v853556|title=Sá Carneiro morre em acidente de aviação |publisher=RTP|access-date=8 October 2022|date=8 September 2015|language=pt}}</ref>

In January 1981, the [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]], the main party within the Democratic Alliance, elected '''[[Francisco Pinto Balsemão]]''' as leader and the VII Constitutional Government was sworn in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/tomada-de-posse-do-vii-governo-constitucional/|title=Tomada de posse do VII Governo Constitucional|publisher=RTP|access-date=8 October 2022|date=9 January 1981|language=pt}}</ref> Internal issues within the Alliance forced a new government to take office, the VIII Constitutional Government, in September 1981, also led by Pinto Balsemão. Balsemão resigned in late 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/demissao-pinto-balsemao_a853792|title=Demissão Pinto Balsemão|publisher=RTP|access-date=15 January 2024|date=8 September 2015|language=pt}}</ref>

===IX Constitutional Government (1983–1985)===
The [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]], under the leadership of '''[[Mário Soares]]''', returned to power after the [[1983 Portuguese legislative election|1983 legislative election]] and formed a [[Central Bloc]] government, the IX Constitutional Government, between the two main parties, the Socialists and the Social Democrats. Soares resigned in June 1985 after the Social Democrats withdrew from government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publico.pt/2017/01/07/politica/noticia/soares-o-homem-que-nunca-desistiu-1754644|title=Mário Soares (1924-2017), o homem que nunca desistiu |publisher=Público|access-date=15 January 2024|date=7 January 2017|language=pt}}</ref>

===X, XI and XII Constitutional Governments (1985–1995)===
The [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]], under the leadership of '''[[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]]''', rose to power after the [[1985 Portuguese legislative election|1985 legislative elections]] and formed a minority government. However, the government lost the confidence of Parliament in April 1987 after losing a non-confidence vote.<ref>[https://ionline.sapo.pt/artigo/624225/1987-da-mocao-de-censura-a-primeira-maioria-de-cavaco-?seccao=Portugal_i 1987. Da moção de censura à primeira maioria de Cavaco] ''Jornal i'', 30 August 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref> After this, President [[Mário Soares]] called an early election for July 1987.

The [[1987 Portuguese legislative election|1987 early elections]] were held on 19 July and resulted in a landslide majority government for the Social Democrats, the first time a party won a majority on its own in democracy.<ref>[https://arquivos.rtp.pt/conteudos/1987-maioria-absoluta-do-psd/ 1987 – Maioria absoluta do PSD] ''RTP'', 4 July 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref> The XI Constitutional Government, the first one to finish a full 4-year term in democracy, was sworn in on 17 August 1987. During this term, the PSD government initiated a big program of liberalization and privatization of several sectors of the economy.<ref>[https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/a-decada-de-betao-do-cavaquismo_es901116 A "década de betão" do cavaquismo] ''RTP'', 7 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref>

In the [[1991 Portuguese legislative election|1991 election]] the Social Democrats were returned again to power and, also, with an absolute majority. It was the third consecutive election victory for the PSD, a record in democracy. The XII Constitutional Government was sworn in on 31 October 1991. After 1992, the economy fell into a recession and despite the recession being over by mid 1994, the government was badly hit and Cavaco Silva decided to not run for a fourth term as prime minister.<ref>[https://www.dn.pt/poder/bloqueio-da-ponte-o-principio-do-fim-do-cavaquismo-foi-ha-25-anos-11035094.html Bloqueio da ponte. O princípio do fim do cavaquismo foi há 25 anos] ''Diário de Notícias'', 22 July 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref> Cavaco Silva's 10-year tenure as prime minister is the longest, so far, in democracy.<ref>[https://www.dn.pt/galerias/fotos/portugal/cavaco-silva-os-10-anos-como-primeiro-ministro-5065170.html Cavaco Silva: os 10 anos como primeiro-ministro] ''Diário de Notícias'', 8 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref>

===XIII and XIV Constitutional Governments (1995–2002)===
The [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]], under the leadership of '''[[António Guterres]]''', came to power following the [[1995 Portuguese legislative election|October 1995 legislative elections]]. The Socialists later won a new mandate by winning exactly half the parliamentary seats in the [[1995 Portuguese legislative election|October 1999 election]], and constituting then the XIV Constitutional Government.  Socialist [[Jorge Sampaio]] won the February 1996 presidential elections with nearly 54% of the vote. Sampaio's election marked the first time since the 1974 revolution that a single party held the prime ministership, the presidency, and a plurality of the municipalities. Local elections were held in December 1997.

[[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]] Guterres continued the privatization and modernization policies initiated by his predecessor, [[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]] (in office 1985–1995) of the [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]].  Guterres was a vigorous proponent of the effort to include Portugal in the first round of countries to collaborate and put into effect the [[euro]] in 1999. In international relations, Guterres pursued strong ties with the United States and greater Portuguese integration with the European Union while continuing to raise Portugal's profile through an activist foreign policy.  One of his first decisions as prime minister was to send 900 troops to participate in the [[IFOR]] peacekeeping mission in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]].  Portugal later contributed 320 troops to [[SFOR]], the follow-up [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] operation. Portugal also contributed aircraft and personnel to [[NATO]]'s Operation Allied Force in [[Kosovo]]. Guterres resigned in December 2001 after a disappointing result in the [[2001 Portuguese local elections|local elections]].<ref>[https://expresso.pt/politica/2016-10-13-A-noite-que-mudou-a-vida-de-Guterres "A noite que mudou a vida de Guterres "], ''Expresso'', 13 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2022.</ref>

===XV Constitutional Government (2002–2004)===
Following the results of the [[2002 Portuguese legislative election|2002 early election]], the XV Constitutional Government, led by '''[[José Manuel Durão Barroso]]''', leader of the Social Democratic Party, in coalition with the People's Party, whose leader, [[Paulo Portas]], became Minister of Defence, was sworn in in April 2002. This government lasted two years because, in June 2004, Durão Barroso announced his resignation in order to become [[President of the European Commission]].<ref>[https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/politica/durao-barroso-apresenta-demissao-para-ser-presidente-da-comissao-europeia_v853581 "Durão Barroso apresenta demissão para ser presidente da Comissão Europeia "], ''RTP'', 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2023.</ref>

===XVI Constitutional Government (2004–2005)===
After [[José Manuel Durão Barroso]] accepted the invitation to be the next [[European Commission]] President, a new government had to be formed. Though opposition parties called for general elections, President [[Jorge Sampaio]] named '''[[Pedro Santana Lopes]]''', the new Social Democratic Party leader, as prime minister, who thus formed a new government, in coalition with the [[People's Party (Portugal)|People's Party]]. However, in December 2004, due to several controversies involving the government, the President dissolved the parliament and called for [[2005 Portuguese Parliament election|early elections]]. Santana Lopes resigned after the announcement of the President's decision.

===XVII and XVIII Constitutional Governments (2005–2011)===
In the [[2005 Portuguese Parliament election|elections]] on 20 February, the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] obtained its largest victory ever, achieving an absolute majority for the first time in the party's history. Prime Minister '''[[José Sócrates]]''' was sworn in by President [[Jorge Sampaio]] on 12 March. To many's surprise, Sócrates formed a cabinet made up of roughly half senior members of the Socialist Party and half independents, notably including [[Diogo Freitas do Amaral]], founder of the right wing [[People's Party (Portugal)|People's Party]], who assumed office as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (he later resigned due to personal issues).

In the [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|elections]] on 27 September 2009,  The Socialist Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister José Sócrates, won the largest number of seats, but did not repeat the overall majority they gained in 2005. Sócrates was reconducted but lost his majority. The [[European sovereign-debt crisis|2010 European debt crisis]] led Portugal to ask for a bailout from the IMF and the European Union. This situation led to the resignation of José Sócrates as prime minister and the President dissolved parliament and called an [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|early election for June 2011]].

===XIX and XX Constitutional Governments (2011–2015)===
In the [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|elections]] held on 5 June 2011, the Social Democratic Party won enough seats to form a majority government with the People's Party. The Government was led by '''[[Pedro Passos Coelho]]'''. It had 11 ministers and was sworn in on 21 June.

The Portuguese [[2015 Portuguese legislative election|legislative election of 2015]] was held on 4 October. The results display a relative victory of the right-wing coalition, but they also display a combined victory of the left-wing parties (including the Socialist Party), with a hung parliament (a right-wing single winner and a left-wing majority parliament). After the election, the XX Constitutional Government of Portugal had Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD) as the prime minister and lasted from 30 October 2015 to 26 November 2015. However, the Government Programme was rejected by the Parliament. It was the shortest-lived Portuguese national government since the Carnation Revolution.

=== XXI, XXII and XXIII Constitutional Governments (2015–2024) ===
The 21st [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet]] of the [[Government of Portugal|Portuguese government]] since the establishment of the current constitution. It was established on 26 November 2015 as a [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] (PS) [[minority government]] led by Prime Minister '''[[António Costa]]'''.

The Portuguese legislative [[2019 Portuguese legislative election|election of 2019]] was held on 6 October 2019. The centre-left Socialist Party (PS) of incumbent Prime Minister Costa obtained the largest share of the vote, and the most seats. The [[XXII Constitutional Government of Portugal]] was sworn in on 26 October 2019 as a Socialist Party (PS) minority government led by Prime Minister António Costa. In October 2021, the budget proposed by the government was rejected by Parliament, leading President [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]] to call an early election for January 2022.<ref>[https://eco.sapo.pt/2021/11/04/as-3-razoes-de-marcelo-para-convocar-eleicoes-antecipadas/ As 3 razões de Marcelo para convocar eleições antecipadas] ''Eco'', 4 November 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref>

The [[2022 Portuguese legislative election|2022 early elections]] were held on 30 January 2022. The election resulted in an absolute majority for the Socialist Party, the second in its history.<ref>[https://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/politica/2022/01/31/resultados-eleitorais-das-legislativas-2022-da-maioria-absoluta-do-ps-ao-desaparecimento-do-cds/270521/ Resultados eleitorais das Legislativas 2022. Da maioria absoluta do PS ao desaparecimento do CDS] ''Radio Renascença'', 31 January 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref> However, the government swearing in was postponed because of a rerun in the overseas constituency of Europe, and the [[XXIII Constitutional Government of Portugal|XXIII Constitutitional Government]], led by Prime Minister António Costa, was only sworn in on 30 March 2022.<ref>[https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/tomada-de-posse-do-governo-vai-ser-a-30-de-marco Tomada de posse do Governo vai ser a 30 de março ] ''Jornal de Negócios'', 18 March 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.</ref> António Costa resigned on 7 November 2023, following the [[Operation Influencer]] police searches into government contracts surrounding lithium and hydrogen businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |title=António Costa demite-se: "Obviamente" |url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/antonio-costa/governo/antonio-costa-apresenta-a-demissao/20231107/654a3b7fd34e65afa2f7496e |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=CNN Portugal |language=pt}}</ref> The President dissolved parliament and called [[2024 Portuguese legislative election|early elections]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Renascença |date=2023-11-09 |title=Marcelo marca eleições para 10 de março - Renascença |url=https://rr.sapo.pt/especial/politica/2023/11/09/marcelo-marca-eleicoes-para-10-de-marco/354511/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Rádio Renascença |language=pt-pt}}</ref>

=== XXIV Constitutional Government (2024–) ===
In the [[2024 Portuguese legislative election|elections]] held on 10 March 2024, the [[Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)|Democratic Alliance]], alliance between the Social Democratic Party, People's Party and the People's Monarchist Party, won enough seats to form a minority government. The Government led by '''[[Luís Montenegro]]''' has 17 ministers and was sworn in on 2 April 2024. The government fell after losing a [[2024 Portuguese legislative election#Fall of the government|vote of confidence in March 2025]],<ref>{{cite news |last1= |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=11 March 2025 |url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2025/03/11/parlamento-chumba-mocao-de-confianca-e-dita-queda-do-governo/|title=Parlamento chumba moção de confiança e dita queda do Governo|language=pt |newspaper=Eco|location=Lisbon |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref> and the President dissolved Parliament and called an [[2025 Portuguese legislative election|early election for 18 May 2025]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pinto |first1=Salomé |last2= |first2= |date=13 March 2025 |url=https://eco.sapo.pt/2025/03/13/e-oficial-marcelo-marca-eleicoes-para-18-de-maio/|title=É oficial. Marcelo marca eleições para 18 de maio |language=pt |newspaper=Eco|location=Lisbon |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref>

==Political powers==
{{Infobox government
| government_name  = Portuguese branches of government
| nativename       = ''Órgãos de soberania''
| government_form  = [[Semi-presidential republic]]
| image            = Coat of arms of Portugal.svg
| image_size       = 200px
| alt              =
| image2           = 
| image_size2      =
| alt2             =
| image3           = 
| image_size3      =
| alt3             =
| image4           = 
| image_size4      =
| alt4             =
| caption          = 
| date             = {{Start date|1976|04|25|df=y}}
| date_end         = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
| document_type    = Founding document
| document         = [[Portuguese Constitution of 1976|1976 Constitution]]
| country          = Portugal
| website          = 
| branch1          = [[President of the Portuguese Republic|President of the Republic]]
| branch1_label1   = Holder
| branch1_data1    = [[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]
| branch1_label2   = Seat
| branch1_data2    = [[Belém Palace]]
| branch1_label3   = 
| branch1_data3    = 
| legislature      = [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
| speaker          = [[José Pedro Aguiar-Branco]]
| deputy_speaker   = [[Teresa Morais]],<br />[[Marcos Perestrello]],<br />[[Diogo Pacheco de Amorim]],<br />[[Rodrigo Saraiva]]
| members_in_assembly = 230
| meeting_place    = [[São Bento Palace]]
| branch3          = Executive branch
| leader_type      = [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]]
| leader_title     = [[Luís Montenegro]]
| main_body        = [[Portuguese government|Government]]
| leader_type2     = Vice Prime Minister
| leader_title2    = ''Currently none''
| leader_type3     = 
| leader_title3    = 
| leader_type4     = 
| leader_title4    =
| appointed        = President of the Republic
| headquarters     = [[São Bento Mansion]]
| main_organ       = Council of Ministers
| departments      = Ministries and State Secretariats
| branch4          = Judicial branch
| court            = [[Portuguese Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]]
| chief_justice_label = President
| chief_justice    = [[José João Abrantes]]
| seat             = [[Ratton Palace]]
| extra_courts_label = Other courts and presidents
| extra_courts     = [[Supreme Court of Justice (Portugal)|Supreme Court of Justice]] ([[João Cura Mariano]]),<br />[[Supreme Administrative Court (Portugal)|Supreme Administrative Court]] ([[Dulce Neto]]),<br />[[Court of Auditors (Portugal)|Court of Auditors]] ([[José Tavares (judge)|José Tavares]])
}}

Government in Portugal is made up of three branches originally envisioned by [[Age of Enlightenment|enlightenment]] [[philosopher]] [[Baron de Montesquieu]]: [[Executive (government)|executive]], [[legislative]], and [[judicial]]. Each branch is [[Separation of powers|separate]] and is designed to keep [[Separation of powers#Checks and balances|checks and balances]] on the others. The [[President of Portugal|President]]'s powers, however, do not fall into either of the traditional three, forming instead a sort of "moderating power" over the government and the legislature.<ref name="Presidency" />

The four main organs of the national government are the President, the [[Government of Portugal|Government]] (which includes the [[Prime Minister of Portugal|prime minister]] and the [[Portuguese Council of Ministers|Council of Ministers]]), the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]] (Parliament), and the judiciary, made up of different hierarchies of courts (the Supreme Court of Justice and its lower courts, the Supreme Administrative Court and its lower courts, the Constitutional Court and the Court of Auditors).

{{Office-table}}
|[[President of Portugal|President]]
|[[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]
|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]]
|9 March 2016
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]]
|[[Luís Montenegro]]
|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]]
|2 April 2024
|}

===President===
[[File:Palácio de Belém - Lisboa - Portugal (5284659273) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Belém Palace, the official residence of the President.]]
The President, elected to a 5-year term by direct, [[universal suffrage]], is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Presidential powers include appointing the prime minister and Council of Ministers, in which the President must be guided by the assembly election results; dismissing the prime minister; dissolving the assembly to call early elections; vetoing legislation, which may be overridden by the assembly; and declaring a state of war or siege, only with the approval of the assembly and on government advice.

The [[Portuguese Council of State|Council of State]], a presidential advisory body, is composed of:<ref>[http://www.parlamento.pt/Legislacao/Paginas/ConstituicaoRepublicaPortuguesa.aspx Constituição da República Portuguesa]</ref>
* The President of the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
* The [[Prime Minister of Portugal]]
* The President of the [[Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court of Portugal]]
* The [[Ombudsman#Portugal|Ombudsman of Portugal]]
* Both Presidents of the regional governments of the autonomous regions ([[Madeira]] and [[Azores]])
* Former Presidents of the Republic
* Five citizens appointed by the President of the Republic
* Five citizens appointed by the Assembly of the Republic

The president, according to the election results, names the party that shall form a government, whose leader is appointed prime minister. The prime minister names the Council of Ministers, and the ministers name their [[Secretary of state#Portugal|Secretaries of State]]. A new government is required to define the broad outline of its policy in a program and present it to the assembly for a mandatory period of debate. Failure of the assembly to reject the program by a majority of deputies confirms the government in office.

====Presidential elections====
{{Main|2021 Portuguese presidential election}}
{{Election results
|cand1=[[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]|party1=[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]]–[[CDS – People's Party|People's Party]]|votes1=2531692
|cand2=[[Ana Gomes]]|party2=Independent {{small|supported by [[People Animals Nature]]–[[LIVRE]]}}|colour2=#D02090|votes2=540823
|cand3=[[André Ventura]]|party3=[[Chega (political party)|Chega]]|votes3=497746
|cand4=[[João Ferreira (politician)|João Ferreira]]|party4=[[Portuguese Communist Party]]–[[Ecologist Party "The Greens"|The Greens]]|votes4=179764
|cand5=[[Marisa Matias]]|party5=[[Left Bloc (Portugal)|Left Bloc]]–[[Socialist Alternative Movement]]|votes5=165127
|cand6=[[Tiago Mayan Gonçalves]]|party6=[[Liberal Initiative]]|votes6=134991
|cand7=[[Vitorino Silva]]|party7=[[React, Include, Recycle]]|votes7=123031
|blank=47164
|invalid=38018
|electorate=10847434
|source=[https://dre.pt/application/conteudo/156971146 Comissão Nacional de Eleições]
}}

===Legislative branch===
[[File:Assemblea della Repubblica Lisbona.jpg|thumb|São Bento Palace, the meeting place of Parliament.]]
Legislative power is exercised by the [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]], which is the [[parliament]] of Portugal, although the Government also has a more limited ability to legislate on some matters (on others, Parliament has exclusive legislative competence). It is also the body which holds the Government accountable and has the means to remove it from office at any time, as described earlier, primarily through a [[motion of no confidence]], although alternative methods exist.<ref name="AR" />

The Assembly of the Republic is a [[unicameral]] body composed of 230 [[Deputy (legislator)|deputies]] (that is, [[Member of parliament|members of parliament]]). Elected by universal suffrage according to a system of proportional representation, deputies serve terms of office of 4 years, unless the president dissolves the assembly and calls for new elections.<ref name="AR" /> According to the constitution, members of the assembly represent the entire country, not the constituency from which they are elected.

====Political parties in legislative elections====
{{Elect|List of political parties in Portugal|Elections in Portugal}}
{{Main|2024 Portuguese legislative election}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Summary of the 10 March 2024 [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]] elections results
|-
| colspan=11| [[File:2024 Portuguese Assembly Of The Republic.svg|360px|center]]
|-
! rowspan="2" colspan="3" style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:left;" alignleft|[[Political party|Parties]]
! rowspan="2" style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|Votes
! rowspan="2" style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|%
! rowspan="2" style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|±[[Percentage point|pp]] [[Swing (politics)|swing]]
! colspan="5" style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:center;"|[[Member of Parliament|MPs]]
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"|[[2022 Portuguese legislative election|2022]]
! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:center;"| 2024
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|±
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|%
! style="background:#e9e9e9; text-align:right;"|±
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)}};border-bottom-style:hidden;" rowspan="4"|
| bgcolor={{party color|Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)}} align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Democratic Alliance (Portugal, 2024)|Democratic Alliance]] {{small|([[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]/[[CDS – People's Party|CDS–PP]]/[[People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)|PPM]])}}{{efn|name=PSD/CDS/PPM}}
||1,814,002||28.01||{{decrease}}1.8||74||'''77'''||{{increase}}3||33.48||{{increase}}1.3
|-
| bgcolor="{{party color|Portugal Ahead}}" align="center" |
|align=left|[[Coalition PSD/CDS|Madeira First]] {{small|([[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]/[[Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party|CDS–PP]])}}{{efn|name=PSD/CDS}}
||52,989||0.82||{{decrease}}0.1||3||'''3'''||{{steady}}0||1.30||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|{{Party name with colour|People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)|shortname=People's Monarchist}}{{efn|name=PPM}}
||451||0.01||{{steady}}0.0||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="2"| ''Total Democratic Alliance''{{efn|name=Democratic Alliance 2022}}
|width="65" align="right" |''1,867,442''
|width="40" align="right" |''28.83''
|width="40" align="right" |''{{decrease}}1.9''
|width="40" align="right" |''77''
|width="40" align="right" |'''''80'''''
|width="40" align="right" |''{{increase}}3''
|width="40" align="right" |''34.78''
|width="40" align="right" |''{{increase}}1.3''
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Socialist Party (Portugal)|shortname=Socialist}}
||1,812,443||27.98||{{decrease}}13.4||120||'''78'''||{{decrease}}42||33.91||{{decrease}}18.3
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="#202056" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Chega (political party)|CHEGA]]
||1,169,781||18.06||{{increase}}10.9||12||'''50'''||{{increase}}38||21.74||{{increase}}16.5
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="#00ADEF" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Liberal Initiative (Portugal)|Liberal Initiative]]
||319,877||4.94||{{steady}}0.0||8||'''8'''||{{steady}}0||3.48||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Left Bloc (Portugal)|shortname=Left Bloc}}
||282,314||4.36||{{steady}}0.0||5||'''5'''||{{steady}}0||2.17||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Unitary Democratic Coalition|shortname=Unitary Democratic Coalition}}
||205,551||3.17||{{decrease}}1.1||6||'''4'''||{{decrease}}2||1.74||{{decrease}}0.9
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|LIVRE}}
||204,875||3.16||{{increase}}1.9||1||'''4'''||{{increase}}3||1.74||{{increase}}1.3
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="teal" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[People–Animals–Nature]]
||126,125||1.95||{{increase}}0.4||1||'''1'''||{{steady}}0||0.43||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="blue" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[National Democratic Alternative (Portugal)|National Democratic Alternative]]
||102,134||1.58||{{increase}}1.4||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="LightSeaGreen" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[React, Include, Recycle]]
||26,092||0.40||{{steady}}0.0||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Together for the People|colour=green|shortname=Together for the People}}
||19,145||0.30||{{increase}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="#012257" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Nova Direita|New Right]]
||16,456||0.25||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||'''0'''||{{N/A}}||0.00||{{N/A}}
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat|shortname=Portuguese Workers' Communist}}
||15,491||0.24||{{steady}}0.0||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="{{party color|Volt Europa}}" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Volt Portugal]]
||11,854||0.18||{{increase}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="#002147" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Ergue-te|Rise Up]]
||6,030||0.09||{{steady}}0.0||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="{{party color|Earth Party}}" align="center" |
| align="left" |Alternative 21 {{small|([[Earth Party]]/[[Alliance (Portugal)|Alliance]])}}
||4,265||0.07||{{decrease}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" style="width: 10px" bgcolor="#CC0033" align="center" |
| align="left" |[[Portuguese Labour Party|Labour]]
||2,435||0.04||{{decrease}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|We, the Citizens!|colour=gold|shortname=We, the Citizens!}}
||2,399||0.04||{{decrease}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan="2" {{Party name with colour|Socialist Alternative Movement|colour=crimson|shortname=Socialist Alternative Movement}}<ref name="MAS">[https://visao.pt/atualidade/politica/legislativas-2024/2024-02-09-mas-de-renata-cambra-esta-impedido-de-concorrer-as-legislativas-de-10-de-marco/ "MAS de Renata Cambra está impedido de concorrer às legislativas de 10 de março"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214201015/https://visao.pt/atualidade/politica/legislativas-2024/2024-02-09-mas-de-renata-cambra-esta-impedido-de-concorrer-as-legislativas-de-10-de-marco/ |date=14 February 2024 }}, ''Visão'', 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.</ref>{{efn|List rejected. Votes counted as invalid.}}
||0||0.00||{{decrease}}0.1||0||'''0'''||{{steady}}0||0.00||{{steady}}0.0
|-
|colspan=3 align=left style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''Total valid'''
|width="65" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''6,194,709'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''95.64'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''{{decrease}}1.8'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''230'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''230'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''{{steady}}0'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''100.00'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''{{steady}}0.0'''
|-
|colspan=3|Blank ballots
||89,847||1.39||{{increase}}0.3||colspan=5 rowspan=4|
|-
|colspan=3|Invalid ballots
||192,396||2.97||{{increase}}1.5
|-
|colspan=3 align=left style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''Total'''
|width="50" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''6,476,952'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|'''100.00'''
|width="40" align="right" style="background-color:#E9E9E9"|
|-
|colspan=3|Registered voters/turnout
||10,813,643||59.90||{{increase}}8.4
|-
| colspan=11 align=left | Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/2024_ar_mapa_oficial_dr.pdf |title=Comissão Nacional de Eleições Mapa Oficial n.º 2-A/2024 |work=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |date=23 March 2024 |access-date=23 March 2024}}</ref>
|}

===Executive branch===
[[File:22 11 2022 Encontro com o senhor António Costa, Primeiro-Ministro da República Portuguesa (52518745795).jpg|thumb|São Bento Mansion, the official residence and office of the Prime Minister.]]
Executive power is exercised by the [[Government of Portugal]]. The Government is formed after the President appoints the prime minister based on election results, as described earlier&nbsp;– traditionally, the leader of the most voted party.

The Government can only remain in place for as long as the Parliament allows: the Parliament can remove the Government at the beginning by approving a motion of rejection to the introductory Government programme, or at any time by approving a [[motion of no confidence]], either of which is achieved by a [[Majority|simple majority]]; the Government may also, of its own initiative, choose to present at any time a [[motion of confidence]], which acts as the opposite of a motion of no confidence: if rejected, the Government is removed. Finally, the Government also relies on Parliament to approve the [[state budget]], which also allows Parliament to indirectly force the Government to resign by rejecting its budget proposal. Thus, the Government, although not directly elected, is held accountable before Parliament, which is proportionally representative of the people.<ref name="AR" /> Typically, once the Government is removed from office, the President will call a [[snap election]] (also known as an early election).

Current government composition:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presidency of the Portuguese Republic |title=Presidente da República aceita composição do XXIV Governo Constitucional |url=https://www.presidencia.pt/en/news-agenda/all-news/2024/03/presidente-da-republica-aceita-composicao-do-xxiv-governo-constitucional/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.presidencia.pt |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{see also|XXIV Constitutional Government of Portugal}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Office
! colspan="2" |Minister
! colspan="2" |Party
!Start of term
!End of term
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]]
| align=center |[[File:Luis Montenegro at EPP Summit, 21 March, Brussels.jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Luís Montenegro]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Minister of State]] and of [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal)|Foreign Affairs]]
| align=center |[[File:EPP Congress Bucharest - Day 1 IMG 9432 (53571721361) (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Paulo Rangel]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Minister of State]] and of [[Ministry of Finance (Portugal)|Finance]]
| align=center |[[File:Joaquim Miranda Sarmento (Agência Lusa) portrait.png|120x120px]]
|[[Joaquim Miranda Sarmento]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Presidency of the Council of Ministers (Portugal)|Minister of the Presidency]]
| align=center |[[File:Antonio Leitao Amaro - April 2024 (cropped).png|120x120px]]
|[[António Leitão Amaro]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Minister without portfolio#Portugal|Minister Adjunct]] and for [[Ministry of Territorial Cohesion|Territorial Cohesion]]
|{{CSS image crop|Image =Manuel Castro Almeida (Agência Lusa).png|bSize = 165|cWidth = 95|cHeight = 120|oTop =5|oLeft = 30}}
| [[Manuel Castro Almeida]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (Portugal)|Minister of Parliamentary Affairs]]
| align=center | [[File:Pedro Duarte September 2024.jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Pedro Duarte (politician)|Pedro Duarte]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of National Defence (Portugal)|Minister of National Defence]]
| align=center |[[File:EPP Political Assembly, 17-18 November, Lisbon (52505706862) (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Nuno Melo (politician)|Nuno Melo]]
| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}}" |
|[[CDS – People's Party|CDS-PP]]
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Justice (Portugal)|Minister of Justice]]
|{{CSS image crop|Image =Rita Júdice 2024 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 140|cWidth = 95|cHeight = 120|oTop =0|oLeft = 23}}
|[[Rita Júdice]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|[[Independent politician|Independent]]
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Internal Administration (Portugal)|Minister of Internal Administration]]
|[[File:Margarida blasco 2024 (cropped).png|120x120px]]
|[[Margarida Blasco]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|Independent
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Education (Portugal)|Minister of Education, Science and Innovation]]
| [[File:Fernando Alexandre May 2024 (cropped).png|120x120px]]
|[[Fernando Alexandre (politician)|Fernando Alexandre]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|Independent
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Health (Portugal)|Minister of Health]]
|[[File:Ana Paula Martins 2023 (cropped).png|120x120px]]
|[[Ana Paula Martins]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing (Portugal)|Minister of Infrastructure and Housing]]
| align=center |[[File:Miguel Pinto Luz (portrait 2019).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Miguel Pinto Luz]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Economy (Portugal)|Minister of Economy]]
| align=center |[[File:Pedro reis (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Pedro Reis (economist)|Pedro Reis]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security|Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security]]
|{{CSS image crop|Image =EU2024BE 240620 EPSCO Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 95|cHeight = 120|oTop =0|oLeft = 10}}
|[[Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|Independent
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of the Environment (Portugal)|Minister of the Environment and Energy]]
| align=center |[[File:European Portrait - Graça Carvalho (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[Maria da Graça Carvalho|Graça Carvalho]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[:pt:Ministério_da_Juventude_e_Modernização|Minister of Youth and Modernisation]]
| align=center |[[File:Margarida Balseiro Lopes 13-5-2024.jpg|120x120px]]
| [[Margarida Balseiro Lopes]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Agriculture (Portugal)|Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries]]
| align=center |[[File:Jose manuel fernandes (cropped).jpg|120x120px]]
|[[José Manuel Fernandes]]
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}}" |
|PSD
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|-
|[[Ministry of Culture (Portugal)|Minister of Culture]]
| align=center |{{CSS image crop|Image =Dalila Rodrigues RitaCarmo.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 95|cHeight = 120|oTop =20|oLeft = 20}}
| [[Dalila Rodrigues]]
| style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
|Independent
|2 April 2024
|''Incumbent''
|}

===Judicial branch===
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 500

 | image1 = Baixa Pombalina 33833-Lisbon (36128651271).jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = Supreme Court of Justice's seat.

 | image2 = Escadaria STA.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = Administrative Supreme Court's seat.

 | image3 = Palácio Ratton.png
 | alt3 = 
 | caption3 = Ratton Palace, the Constitutional Court's seat.
}}

The national [[Portuguese Supreme Court of Justice|Supreme Court]] is the court of last appeal in civil and criminal matters, which is described by the Constitution as "the senior organ in the hierarchy of the courts of law". There is a separate system of courts for administrative and fiscal matters, for which the court of last appeal is the [[Supreme Administrative Court]]. During war time, the law provides for there being military courts. 

A thirteen-member [[Portuguese Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]] reviews the constitutionality of legislation. There is also a [[Court of Auditors (Portugal)|Court of Auditors]].

==Administrative divisions==
{{See also|Subdivisions of Portugal}}
There are two [[Autonomous regions of Portugal|autonomous regions]] (''regiões autónomas'', singular ''região autónoma'') with limited legislative powers besides the administrative ones: [[Azores]] and [[Madeira]].
As purely administrative divisions, there are 18 [[Districts of Portugal|districts]] (''distritos''), 308 [[municipalities of Portugal|municipalities]] (''municípios'') and 3,091 [[freguesias|civil parishes]] (''freguesias'').
The districts are [[Aveiro District|Aveiro]], [[Azores|Açores (Azores)]]*, [[Beja District|Beja]], [[Braga District|Braga]], [[Bragança (district)|Bragança]], [[Castelo Branco District|Castelo Branco]], [[Coimbra District|Coimbra]], [[Évora District|Évora]], [[Faro District|Faro]], [[Guarda District|Guarda]], [[Leiria District|Leiria]], [[Lisboa District|Lisboa]], [[Madeira]]*, [[Portalegre District|Portalegre]], [[Porto District|Porto]], [[Santarém District|Santarém]], [[Setúbal]], [[Viana do Castelo District|Viana do Castelo]], [[Vila Real District|Vila Real]] and [[Viseu District|Viseu]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Portugal}}
*[[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
*[[Censorship in Portugal]]
*[[Foreign relations of Portugal]]
*[[Member of the European Parliament]]
*''[[Sinistrisme]]''
*[[Politics of France]] (similar system of Government)
*[[Politics of Romania]] (similar system of Government)

==Notes==
{{Notelist
| refs =

{{efn
| name = PPM
| PPM list only in Madeira
}}

{{efn
| name = PSD/CDS
| In Madeira, the PSD and the CDS–PP contested the elections in a coalition called Madeira First (''Madeira Primeiro'').
}}

{{efn
| name = PSD/CDS/PPM
| PSD/CDS–PP/PPM list in mainland Portugal, Azores and Overseas.
}}

{{efn
| name = Democratic Alliance 2022
| Democratic Alliance results are compared to the combined totals of the [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]], the [[Democratic and Social Centre – People's Party|Democratic and Social Centre]] and the [[People's Monarchist Party (Portugal)|People's Monarchist Party]] in the 2022 election.
}}
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Politics of Portugal}}
*[http://www.portugal.gov.pt Portuguese government website]
*[http://www.apcp.pt/ Associação portuguesa de ciência política]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140115023052/http://www.eleicoes.mj.pt/ Election results]
*[http://www.cne.pt/ Comissão Nacional de Eleições]

{{Portugal topics}}
{{Portuguese parties}}
{{Politics of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Portugal}}
[[Category:Politics of Portugal| ]]