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Europe
Portugal |
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| Last reviewed: 17 August 2009 |
Country information
Full Country Name: The Portuguese Republic
Area: 92,090 sq km
Population: 10.6 million (2008)
Capital City: Lisbon (population: around 2.1 million)
People: 95% Portuguese, approx 5% ethnic minorities
Language(s): Portuguese
Religion(s): Predominantly Roman Catholic (over 90%), others Protestant, Muslim and Jewish
Currency: euro (EUR)
Major political parties: Socialist Party or PS (Leader: Jose Socrates), Social Democratic Party or PSD (Leader: Manuela Ferreira Leite), Popular Party or CDS/PP (Paulo Portas), Portuguese Communist Party or PCP (Leader: Jerónimo de Sousa), Leftwing Block or BE (Leader: Francisco Louçã), (rotational leadership); The Greens or PEV (coalition with the Communist Party)
Political system: Parliamentary democracy/semi-presidential system; Parliament 230 seats: (PS 121; PSD 75; PCP/Greens 14; CDS/PP 12; BE 8.
Head of State: President Cavaco Silva
Prime Minister: José Sόcrates
Foreign Minister: Luis Amado
Membership of international groups/organisations: European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), United Nations (UN), Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE), Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
DID YOU KNOW?
The first circumnavigation of the globe was led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.
The UK’s alliance with Portugal is older than any other and began with a Treaty in 1373
Portugal is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Peninsular Wars, when the French army was expelled with the help of British troops led by the Duke of Wellington
The Portuguese language is spoken by over 200 million people throughout the world
Portugal will celebrate in 2010 the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Republican regime, when Monarchy was overthrown
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: €166 billion (2008)
GDP per head: 75% of EU 27 (2008)
( €15.3k; in ppp: €18.9k in 2007)
Annual growth: 0% (2008)
Inflation: 2.6% (2008)
Unemployment: 7.6% (2008)
Major industries: Automotive components, tourism, textiles, footwear, wood products, metalworking, oil refining, chemicals, wine, pulp and paper.
Major trading partners: EU (especially Spain, Germany, France, & the UK), the US, Brazil and increasingly Angola.
HISTORY
Portugal gained independence in 1143 and D.Afonso Henriques was proclaimed King of Portugal. Under his reign, the kingdom trebled in size.
King Afonso III expanded the borders to the Algarve in 1249. The explorations of the African Coast and the Atlantic began under King João. Portugal's mainland boundaries have not changed since.
Discoveries occupied most of the 15th century: Madeira, Azores and, Cape Verde. The Portuguese also discovered the sea route to India, via the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498 and Pedro Cabral, trying to reach India, discovered Brazil two years later (1500). Other Portuguese explorers reached the Far East, China and Japan.
In 1580, Portugal lost its independence to Spain. King Sebastião disappeared in the battle of Álcacer Quibir, and, since he had no heirs, the throne went to Philip II of Spain – Philip I of Portugal - who was the son of a Portuguese Princess. Portugal regained independence 60 years later, in 1640.
When Napoleon's army threatened Portugal, the Royal Family fled to Brazil and ruled from Rio de Janeiro where they remained for 14 years. The French were expelled in 1811, with the help of the British, under the command of Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington.
The Monarchy was overthrown in Portugal after the assassination of King D Carlos in 1908, and in 1910 Portugal was proclaimed a Republic. The last King of Portugal, D Manuel II died in exile in London in 1932.
Between 1936 and 1974 Portugal lived under a right wing dictatorial regime characterised by suppression of dissent and local government growth, isolated from the European mainstream and drawing on natural resources of African colonies.
This period ended with the military-led left wing revolution of 25 April 1974, followed by a rapid and chaotic de-colonisation of its former colonies. The key industrial and commercial enterprises were nationalised, as were many large agricultural estates, some of them owned by British citizens.
Portugal held its first democratic elections and approved its first democratic Constitution in 1976. The country joined the EU (then European Economic Community EEC) in 1986.
BBC Timeline of Portugal
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Portugal's Relations with the International Community
During the 1980's Portugal revitalised her relationship with former colonies in Africa. In July 1996, they formed the Commonwealth of Portuguese speaking countries (CPLP). Following a period of Indonesian occupation, East Timor gained independence in 2002 and was the last one to join the CPLP in 2003.
Portugal is a founder member of NATO. Military co-operation with her allies is close, and use is made of her logistic and training facilities. Portugal participated in the Kosovo action and had troops in the NATO force in Bosnia (IFOR). It has recently agreed to reinforce its military presence in Afghanistan (2009). In 2003, despite substantial domestic opposition, the Portuguese Government supported the coalition intervention in Iraq Portugal hosted the Azores Summit where President Bush and Prime Ministers Blair and Aznar met to discuss Iraq. Between 2003 and 2005 Portugal contributed with a 130-strong GNR force towards the international coalition transition effort in Iraq force towards the international coalition transition effort in Iraq.
Portugal's Relations with the UK
England and Portugal have had a Treaty of Alliance since 1373. The two nations signed the Treaty of Windsor in May 1386, which formally confirmed the alliance, the oldest between two sovereign states. In 1387 Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, married King João I of Portugal. The royal couple's youngest son Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator) paved the way for Portugal's Golden Age with his sea voyages of discovery.
Almost three hundred years later, in 1662, Charles II married the Infanta Catharine of Braganza, who introduced tea to Britain, as well as bringing a dowry of two million cruzados, Tangiers and Bombay. In 1703 Portugal joined Britain and the Netherlands in a ‘Grand Alliance' against the French and Spanish Bourbon dynasty. She also signed the Methuen Treaty, in December 1703, which saw Portuguese wines flow into England. In 1807 when Napoleon's army marched into Lisbon and the Royal family fled to Brazil, Portugal invoked the Treaty of Windsor and British Generals, including Beresford and Wellington, came to the defence of Portugal.
In the 21st century the close links continue. Governmental contacts are frequent at political and official levels as we work together on a wide range of issues. The Queen has paid two State Visits to Portugal.
GEOGRAPHY
South-western Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain. Maritime temperate - cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south. The archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also autonomous regions of Portugal with their own micro-climates.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Trade and Investment with the UK
UK exports have increased rapidly since Portuguese accession to the EC in 1986, growing by over three times the average increase to the EC in general. Links between the two countries have always been strong and bilateral trade is worth over £3b. In 2008 UK exports to Portugal totalled £1.6b, and UK imports from Portugal totalled £1.7b. Portugal is UK's 13th largest export market in the EU and 30th worldwide.
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Portugal
POLITICS
After the 1974 leftwing Revolution, the first Constitutional Government was elected in 1976 under Mario Soares, then leader of the Socialist Party (Soares later became President of the Republic from 1986-96). Between 1976 and 1985 a series of coalition and caretaker governments saw Socialist (PS) dominance gradually eroded in favour of the centre-right Social Democrats (PSD). There followed a decade of Social Democratic rule (1985-95) led by economics professor Cavaco Silva (he has been President of the Republic since 2006).
Subsequent Prime Ministers were António Guterres (1995-2002, currently UN High Representative for Refugees), José Manuel Barroso (2002-04, currently European Commission President) and Pedro Santana Lopes (2004-05).
The last general election was held in March 2005 and the last presidential election in January 2006. The Parliament is elected every four years and the President every five years. The President can only serve two consecutive terms.
The next general election is scheduled for September 2009, and less than one month later (October 2009) Portugal will hold local government elections.
A Socialist Government led by Prime Minister José Sócrates has been in power since 2005, backed by an overall parliamentary majority. Portugal held the EU Presidency between July and December 2007 which focused on three key priorities: concluding the Lisbon (EU) Treaty; hosting the EU/Africa summit; and the EU/Brazil summit. The government decided not to hold a referendum on the EU Treaty which was ratified in Parliament in 2008.
Portugal is currently celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Peninsular Wars (1807-1814), at the end of which Napoleon’s army was expelled with the help of British troops led by the Duke of Wellington. The highlight of these celebrations will be in 2010 to mark the anniversary of the Battle of Buçaco and the famous defensive Lines of Torres Vedras, constructed by Wellington. The year 2010 will also mark the 100th anniversary of the Portuguese Republic, which was established on 5 October 1910.
