- You are here:
- Home
- › Travel & living abroad
- › Travel advice by country
- › Country profiles
- › Europe
- › Portugal
Europe
Portugal |
|
| Last reviewed: 17 August 2009 |
Country information
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.
