# Government of Portugal

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Body of sovereignty of Portugal

Government of Portugal Governo de Portugal Central government Government logo Overview Established 24 September 1834; 191 years ago (1834-09-24) State Portugal Leader Prime minister Appointed by President Main organ Council of ministers Ministries 17 Responsible to Assembly of the Republic Headquarters São Bento Mansion Estrela, Lisbon Website portugal.gov.pt

The **Government of Portugal**, also referred to as the **Government of the Republic**, is one of the four [sovereignty bodies](/source/Sovereignty_body_(Portugal)) of [Portugal](/source/Portugal), together with the [president](/source/President_of_Portugal), the [assembly of the Republic](/source/Assembly_of_the_Republic_(Portugal)) and [the courts](/source/Judiciary_of_Portugal). It is both the body of sovereignty that conducts the general politics of the country and the superior body of the Portuguese [public administration](/source/Public_administration).[1]

The term "constitutional government" or simply "government" also refers to the team of ministers and its period of management under one prime minister. This concept is similar to an "[administration](/source/Administration_(government))" in the parlance of a [presidential republic](/source/Presidential_republic) or to a "[collective ministry](/source/Ministry_(collective_executive))" in the parlance of some [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth) countries. Each government in this sense is identified by a roman number, with the present one (formed in June 2025) being the [XXV Constitutional Government](/source/XXV_Constitutional_Government_of_Portugal) since the establishment of the current democratic regime, in 1976.[2]

## Composition

The Government comprises the [prime minister](/source/Prime_minister_of_Portugal), [ministers](/source/Minister_(government)) and [secretaries of state](/source/Secretary_of_state) (junior ministers). Governments may also include one or more deputy prime ministers and undersecretaries of state.[3] Each minister usually heads a ministry and has assigned to him or her one or more secretaries of state, while certain governments may also assign one or more [minister(s) without portfolio](/source/Minister_without_portfolio), as well.[4]

## Formation

After the [elections](/source/Elections_in_Portugal) for the [Assembly of the Republic](/source/Assembly_of_the_Republic_(Portugal)) or the resignation of the previous government, the [president](/source/President_of_Portugal) listens to the parties in the Assembly of the Republic and invites someone to form a government.

The [prime minister](/source/List_of_prime_ministers_of_Portugal) chooses members of the council of ministers. Then the president swears in the prime minister and the Government.[4]

## Functions

The Government has political, legislative and administrative functions. These include, among other things, the power to negotiate with other [countries](/source/Countries) or international organizations, to submit bills to the Assembly of the Republic, to issue decrees and to take administrative choices.

The Government guides its actions by the governmental program and implements it in the [state budget](/source/Government_budget) that is submitted to the Assembly of the Republic each year, in the laws that it proposes, in the decrees that it issues in the [Portuguese Council of Ministers](/source/Portuguese_Council_of_Ministers), and in individual decisions made by its members.

There are no guarantees that the government will stick to its government program, but if it fails to do so, its actions will be judged by the citizens in forthcoming elections.

The Government may also be questioned by the other three sovereignty organs: the president of the republic, the Assembly of the Republic and the courts. The president may veto governmental decrees and a government bill may fail to pass in the Assembly of the Republic, where a [motion of no confidence](/source/Motion_of_no_confidence) may be approved.[4]

## The Council of Ministers

Main article: [Council of Ministers (Portugal)](/source/Council_of_Ministers_(Portugal))

The Council of Ministers is a [collegial executive](/source/Collegial_executive) body within the Government of Portugal. It is usually presided over by the prime minister, but the president of the republic can preside over it at the prime minister's request. Besides the prime minister, the vice prime ministers and all ministers are members of the Council of Ministers. When the prime minister finds it fit, certain secretaries of state can also attend its meetings, but without being able to vote.[5]

## List of governments (since 1976)

Constitutional Governments of Portugal[6] Gov[7] Start[7] End[7] Prime minister[7] Parties in Government Notes and main political events I 1976-07-23 1978-01-23 Mário Soares PS 1976 election (34.9%), minority government, motion of confidence rejection II 1978-01-23 1978-08-29 PS + CDS Coalition government, President Ramalho Eanes dismisses the government III 1978-08-29 1978-11-22 Alfredo Nobre da Costa Independent Nobre da Costa is appointed by President Ramalho Eanes to form government, government resigned IV 1978-11-22 1979-07-07 Carlos Mota Pinto Mota Pinto is appointed by President Ramalho Eanes to form government, prime-minister resigned V 1979-08-01 1980-01-03 Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo Lurdes Pintasilgo is appointed by President Ramalho Eanes to form a caretaker government, the first and only time a woman has held this position VI 1980-01-03 1981-01-09 Francisco Sá Carneiro, Diogo Freitas do Amaral[a] AD (PSD + CDS + PPM) 1979 election (45.3%) 1980 election (47.6%), Sá Carneiro's death, Diogo Freitas do Amaral (CDS) as interim prime-minister VII 1981-01-09 1981-09-04 Francisco Pinto Balsemão Pinto Balsemão is chosen by his party (PSD) to replace Sá Carneiro, prime-minister resigned VIII 1981-09-04 1983-07-09 Pinto Balsemão is chosen by his party to become prime-minister again, prime-minister resigned IX 1983-07-09 1985-11-06 Mário Soares PS + PSD 1983 election (36.1% + 27.2%), coalition government (Central Bloc), prime-minister resigned X 1985-11-06 1987-08-17 Aníbal Cavaco Silva PSD 1985 election (29.9%), minority government, motion of no confidence approval XI 1987-08-17 1991-10-31 1987 election (50.2%) XII 1991-10-31 1995-10-25 1991 election (50.6%) XIII 1995-10-28 1999-10-25 António Guterres PS 1995 election (43.8%), minority government XIV 1999-10-25 2002-04-06 1999 election (44.1%), minority government, prime-minister resigned XV 2002-04-06 2004-07-17 Durão Barroso PSD + CDS–PP 2002 election (40.2% + 8.7%), coalition government, prime-minister resigned XVI 2004-07-17 2005-03-12 Santana Lopes Santana Lopes nominated after Durão Barroso's resignation, parliament dissolved by President Jorge Sampaio, new election called XVII 2005-03-12 2009-10-26 José Sócrates PS 2005 election (45.0%) XVIII 2009-10-26 2011-06-20 2009 election (36.6%), minority government, government resigned XIX 2011-06-20 2015-10-30 Pedro Passos Coelho PSD + CDS–PP 2011 election (38.7% + 11.7%), coalition government XX 2015-10-30 2015-11-26 PàF (PSD + CDS–PP) 2015 election (38.6%), minority government, motion of rejection approval XXI 2015-11-26 2019-10-26 António Costa PS President Cavaco Silva appoints the 2015 election second largest party leader, minority government XXII 2019-10-26 2022-03-30 2019 election (36.3%), minority government, budget rejection XXIII 2022-03-30 2024-04-02 2022 election (41.4%), prime-minister resigned XXIV 2024-04-02 2025-06-05 Luís Montenegro AD (PSD + CDS–PP) 2024 election (28.8%), minority government, motion of confidence rejection XXV 2025-06-05 Incumbent 2025 election (31.8%), minority government

## Logos

In the last decades, there have been different logos that represent the visual identity of the Government.[8]

		- Government logo, 2004–2009

		- Government logo, 2009–2011

		- Government logo, 2011–2015

		- Government logo, 2023–2024

		- Current logo, since 2024, also used between 2015–2023

## See also

- [Cabinet (government)](/source/Cabinet_(government))

- [Ministry (collective executive)](/source/Ministry_(collective_executive))

- [Politics of Portugal](/source/Politics_of_Portugal)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Freitas_do_Amaral_8-0)** Interim prime minister between 4 December 1980 and 9 January 1981.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Órgãos de soberania"](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/lexionario/termo/orgaos-soberania). [Diário da República](/source/Di%C3%A1rio_da_Rep%C3%BAblica). Retrieved 14 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Diário da República n.º 108/2025, Suplemento, Série I de 2025-06-05"](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/diario-republica/108-2025-920796256). [Diário da República](/source/Di%C3%A1rio_da_Rep%C3%BAblica). 5 June 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Primeiro-Ministro"](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/lexionario/termo/primeiro-ministro). [Diário da República](/source/Di%C3%A1rio_da_Rep%C3%BAblica). Retrieved 14 April 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DR_Gov_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DR_Gov_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DR_Gov_4-2) ["Governo"](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/lexionario/termo/governo). [Diário da República](/source/Di%C3%A1rio_da_Rep%C3%BAblica). Retrieved 14 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Conselho de Ministros"](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/lexionario/termo/conselho-ministros). [Diário da República](/source/Di%C3%A1rio_da_Rep%C3%BAblica). Retrieved 14 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Consulta de Governos Anteriores"](https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc24/governo/governos-anteriores). XXIV Constitutional Government website. Retrieved 14 April 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-portugal.gov.pt_governo_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-portugal.gov.pt_governo_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-portugal.gov.pt_governo_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-portugal.gov.pt_governo_7-3) ["Governo de Portugal"](https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc22/governo/governos-anteriores). *portugal.gov.pt* (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-07-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["O Governo e os seus logótipos. "Pela primeira vez", o design é "tema de abertura""](https://rr.pt/especial/politica/2024/04/08/o-governo-e-os-seus-logotipos-pela-primeira-vez-o-design-e-tema-de-abertura/373753/). Renascença. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2025.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc23)

v t e Constitutional Governments of Portugal Soares I (1976–78) Soares II (1978) Nobre da Costa (1978) Mota Pinto (1978–79) Pintasilgo (1979–80) Sá Carneiro/Freitas do Amaral (1980–81) Balsemão I (1981) Balsemão II (1981–83) Soares III (1983–85) Cavaco Silva I (1985–87) Cavaco Silva II (1987–91) Cavaco Silva III (1991–95) Guterres I (1995–99) Guterres II (1999–2002) Barroso (2002–04) Santana Lopes (2004–05) Sócrates I (2005–09) Sócrates II (2009–11) Passos Coelho I (2011–15) Passos Coelho II (2015) Costa I (2015–19) Costa II (2019–22) Costa III (2022–24) Montenegro I (2024–25) Montenegro II (2025–present)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Government of Portugal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Portugal) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Portugal?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.