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List of prime ministers of Portugal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
  • Top left: Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1st Duke of Palmela was the first prime minister to be referred as such.
  • Top right: António de Oliveira Salazar was the longest serving head of government.
  • Bottom left: Aníbal Cavaco Silva was the longest serving prime minister in democracy.
  • Bottom right: Luís Montenegro is the incumbent prime minister.

The prime minister of the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: primeiro-ministro da República Portuguesa) is the head of the Government of Portugal. The officeholder coordinates the actions of all ministers, represents the Government as a whole, reports their actions and is accountable to the Assembly of the Republic, in addition to keeping the president of the Republic informed.

There is no limit to the number of mandates as prime minister. They are appointed by the president of the Republic, after the legislative elections and after an audience with every leader of a party represented at the Assembly. It is usual for the leader of the party which receives a plurality of votes in the elections to be named prime minister.

The official residence of the prime minister is a mansion next to São Bento Palace, which, in confusion, is also often called "São Bento Palace", although many prime ministers did not live in the palace during their full mandate.

History

The origins of present office of prime minister of Portugal fall back to the beginning of the Portuguese monarchy in the 12th century. Typically, a senior official of the king of Portugal prevailed over the others, ensuring the coordination of the administration of the kingdom as a kind of prime minister. Throughout history, the prominent position fell successively on the Mayor of the Palace (Portuguese Mordomo-Mor), on the Chancellor (Chanceler-Mor), on the King's Private Secretary (Escrivão da Puridade) and on the Secretary of State (Secretário de Estado).

In 1736, three offices of secretary of state were created, with the Secretary of State of the Internal Affairs of the Kingdom (Secretário de Estado dos Negócios Interiores do Reino) occupying a prominent position over the others.

Since the 1820 Liberal Revolution of Porto, liberalism and parliamentarism were installed in the country. In the first liberal period, there were three to six secretaries of state with equal position in the hierarchy, but with the Secretary the Internal Affairs of the Kingdom (usually known by Minister of the Kingdom) continuing to occupy a prominent position. Occasionally there was a Minister Assistant to the Dispatch (Ministro Assistante ao Despacho), a coordinator of all secretaries of state, and with a post similar to that of a prime minister. After a brief absolutistic restoration, the second liberalism started. With the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy, the office of President of the Council of Ministers (Presidente do Conselho de Ministros) was created. The presidents of the council were clearly the heads of government of the kingdom, holding the executive power that absolute monarchs had, but were restricted by the controlling power of the National Congress.

With the advent of the Republic in the 5 October 1910 revolution, the head of government was renamed President of the Ministry (Presidente do Ministério). During this period the heads of government were under the strong power of the parliament and often fell due to parliamentary turmoils and social instability.

With the 28 May 1926 coup d'état, and eventually, after the formation of the Estado Novo quasi-fascist dictatorial regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, the prime minister was again named President of the Council of Ministers, and was nominally the most important figure in the country. First Salazar and then Marcello Caetano occupied this post for almost 42 years.

With the Carnation Revolution came the prime minister, which replaced the president of the council.

Prime ministers

The official numbering of the prime ministers starts with the first president of the Council of Ministers of the constitutional monarchy. A second column is added after the establishment of the Republic, numbering the prime ministers from there to the present day. Another column is added for the numbering inside the three regimes: First Republic, the Second Republic and Third Republic, with a fourth column in the Second Republic to mark the numbering of prime ministers since the 1926 revolution that established the National Dictatorship and since the replacement of the National Dictatorship with the Salazarist Estado Novo. In the Third Republic, a fourth column is also used to distinguish the prime ministers of the provisional governments that existed during the period immediately following the Carnation Revolution of 1974 from the prime ministers that assumed office after the entry into force of Portugal's current democratic Constitution adopted 1976.

At the right hand side, a column indicates the official numbering of the Constitutional Governments. The numbering of the Constitutional Governments is not the same as the numbering of prime ministers since the Constitution because, whenever elections for a new parliament take place, a new constitutional government is installed, even if the prime minister remains the same; however, there is also a change of constitutional government when the prime minister is replaced, even if in mid-parliament. So, because some prime ministers managed to remain in office after fresh elections (thus serving as prime ministers under more than one parliament), there are more constitutional governments than there are prime ministers.

The colors indicate the political affiliation of each prime minister.

      No party/independent
      Chartist/Chamorro
      Chamorro
      Septemberist
      Regenerator
      Historic
      Reformist
      Regenerator/Historic
      Progressist
      Liberal Regenerator
      Republican
      Democratic
      National Republican/Sidonist
      Republican Liberal
      Reconstitution Party
      Nationalist Republican
      Democratic Leftwing Republican
      National Union/People's National Action
      Democratic Renewal Party
      Socialist
      Social Democratic
      Democratic and Social Centre

Constitutional Monarchy – Second Liberalism (1834–1910)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office

Electoral mandates
Political party Government Monarch
(Reign)
1 D. Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1º Duque de Palmela - Domingos Sequeira.jpg Pedro de Sousa Holstein,
Marquis of Palmela
(1781–1850)
24 September
1834
4 May
1835
Chartist/"Chamorro" 1st Dev. Maria II
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png(1834–1853)
and Fernando II
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png(1837–1853)
1834
Portugal's first official prime minister; First Devourism government.
2 Conde de Linhares.jpg Vitório Maria de Sousa Coutinho,
Count of Linhares
(1790–1857)
4 May
1835
27 May
1835
"Chamorro"
3 Saldanha.PNG João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun,
Marquis of Saldanha
(1790–1876)
27 May
1835
18 November
1835
Independent 2nd Dev.
Second Devourism government; Resigned after the auction of estuarine lands of the Tejo and Sado River and for military aid to Spanish Queen Isabella II.
4 José Jorge Loureiro.jpg José Jorge Loureiro
(1791–1860)
18 November
1835
20 April
1836
Independent 3rd Dev.
Third Devourism government; Government fell after failure to pass a budget.
5 Retrato do Duque da Terceira.jpg António José Severim de Noronha,
Duke of Terceira and Marquis of Vila Flor
(1792–1860)
20 April
1836
10 September
1836
"Chamorro" 4th Dev.
Jul.1836
Fourth and last Devourism government; September 1836 Revolution.
6 Conde de Lumiares.jpg José da Gama Carneiro e Sousa,
Count of Lumiares
(1788–1849)
10 September
1836
4 November
1836
Septemberist 1st Set.
Belenzada attempted coup by Queen Maria II of Portugal to remove the government; Resigned in the aftermath.
José Bernardino de Portugal e Castro,
Marquis of Valença and Count of Vimioso
(1780–1840)
(did not take office)
4 November
1836
5 November
1836
Independent
Did not take office.
7 Sa da Bandeira.jpg Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo,
Viscount of Sá da Bandeira
(1795–1876)
5 November
1836
1 June
1837
Septemberist 2nd Set.
Nov.1836
Local government reform by minister Passos Manuel; Abolition of slavery traffic in Portuguese colonies.
8 António Dias de Oliveira (cropped).jpg António Dias de Oliveira
(1804–1863)
1 June
1837
2 August
1837
Septemberist 3rd Set.
Revolt of the Marshals.
9 Sa da Bandeira.jpg Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo,
Viscount of Sá da Bandeira (2nd time)
(1795–1876)
2 August
1837
18 April
1839
Septemberist 4th Set.
1838
Portuguese Constitution of 1838.
10 Barão de Ribeira de Sabrosa.jpg Rodrigo Pinto Pizarro de Almeida Carvalhais,
Baron of Ribeira de Sabrosa
(1788–1841)
18 April
1839
26 November
1839
Septemberist 5th Set.
Last fully Septemberist government.
11 GP Conde de pd-bonfim.jpg José Lúcio Travassos Valdez,
Count of Bonfim
(1787–1862)
26 November
1839
9 June
1841
Septemberist 6th Set.
1840
Coalition government; Resume of diplomatic relations with other European powers, including Spain and the Holy See.
12 Joaquim António de Aguiar.jpg Joaquim António de Aguiar
(1792–1884)
9 June
1841
7 February
1842
Septemberist 7th Set.
Known as the "Friar-Killer" due to his role in the dissolution of the monasteries in Portugal; Collapse of the Portuguese Constitution of 1838; Resigned after the restoration of the Constitutional Charter of 1826.
13 D. Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1º Duque de Palmela - Domingos Sequeira.jpg Pedro de Sousa Holstein,
Marquis of Palmela (2nd time)
(1781–1850)
7 February
1842
9 February
1842
Independent G.E.
3-day "Shrovetide Government"; Beginning of Cabralism.
14 Retrato do Duque da Terceira.jpg António José Severim de Noronha,
Duke of Terceira and Marquis of Vila Flor (2nd time)
(1792–1860)
9 February
1842
20 May
1846
Chartist 1st R. Cart.
1842, 1845
Known as the "Restoration Government"; Torres Novas revolt; Resigned after the Revolution of Maria da Fonte; Fled to exile in Madrid; End of Cabralism.
15 D. Pedro de Sousa Holstein, 1º Duque de Palmela - Domingos Sequeira.jpg Pedro de Sousa Holstein,
Marquis of Palmela (3rd time)
(1781–1850)
20 May
1846
6 October
1846
Chartist 2nd R. Cart.
Emboscada palace coup.
16 Saldanha.PNG João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun,
Duke of Saldanha (2nd time)
(1790–1876)
6 October
1846
18 June
1849
Chartist 3rd R. Cart.
1847
Patuleia or Little Civil War that resulted in a Chartist victory; Convention of Gramido.
17 Marquês de Tomar.jpg António Bernardo da Costa Cabral,
Count of Tomar
(1803–1889)
18 June
1849
26 April
1851
Chartist 4th R. Cart.
Returned from exile; Resigned due to political and military unrest.
18 Retrato do Duque da Terceira.jpg António José Severim de Noronha,
Duke of Terceira and Marquis of Vila Flor (3rd time)
(1792–1860)
26 April
1851
1 May
1851
Regenerator 5th R. Cart.
Military insurrection of 1 May 1851; Beginning of the Regeneration.
19 Saldanha.PNG João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun,
Duke of Saldanha (3rd time)
(1790–1876)
1 May
1851
6 June
1856
Regenerator 1st Reg.
1851, 1852 Pedro V
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png
(1853–1861)
Death of queen Maria II; Pedro V ascends the throne.
20 Duque de Loulé.jpg Nuno José Severo de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto,
Duke of Loulé
(1804–1875)
6 June
1856
16 March
1859
Historic 2nd Reg.
1856, 1858
Opening of the first railway line in Portugal on 28 October 1856.
21 Retrato do Duque da Terceira.jpg António José Severim de Noronha,
Duke of Terceira and Marquis of Vila Flor (4th time)
(1792–1860)
16 March
1859
1 May
1860 (died)
Regenerator 3rd Reg.
1860
Died in office of pneumonia.
22 Joaquim António de Aguiar.jpg Joaquim António de Aguiar (2nd time)
(1792–1884)
1 May
1860
4 July
1860
Regenerator
23 Duque de Loulé.jpg Nuno José Severo de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto,
Duke of Loulé (2nd time)
(1804–1875)
4 July
1860
17 April
1865
Historic 4th Reg.
1861, 1864 Luis I
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png
(1861–1889)
Death of king Pedro V; Luís I ascends the throne.
24 Sa da Bandeira.jpg Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo,
Marquis of Sá da Bandeira (3rd time)
(1795–1876)
17 April
1865
4 September
1865
Reformist 5th Reg.
25 Joaquim António de Aguiar.jpg Joaquim António de Aguiar (3rd time)
(1792–1884)
4 September
1865
4 January
1868
Regenerator (with the Historic Party) 6th Reg.
1865, 1867
Nicknamed the "Ministry of Fusion"; Forced to resign after the Janeirinha uprising.
26 Retrato do Duque d’Ávila e Bolama - Miguel Ângelo Lupi, 1880.png António José de Ávila,
Duke of Ávila and Bolama
(1807–1881)
4 January
1868
22 July
1868
Independent
(with Reformists)
7th Reg.
Repeal of the tax that ignited the Janeirinha uprising; Resigned due to the bad economic situation of the country.
27 Sa da Bandeira.jpg Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo,
Marquis of Sá da Bandeira (4th time)
(1795–1876)
22 July
1868
11 August
1869
Reformist 8th Reg.
1868, 1869
Abolition of slavery in all Portuguese territories.
28 Duque de Loulé.jpg Nuno José Severo de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto,
Duke of Loulé (3rd time)
(1804–1875)
11 August
1869
19 May
1870
Historic
(with Reformists)
9th Reg.
Mar.1870
Forced to resign after the "Ajudada" and "Saldanhada" coups, led by the Duke of Saldanha.
29 Saldanha.PNG João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun,
Duke of Saldanha (4th time)
(1790–1876)
19 May
1870
29 August
1870
Regenerator 10th Reg.
Dismissed by King Luis I.
30 Sa da Bandeira.jpg Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo,
Marquis of Sá da Bandeira (5th time)
(1795–1876)
29 August
1870
29 October
1870
Reformist 11th Reg.
Sep.1870
Nominated by King Luis I.
31 Retrato do Duque d’Ávila e Bolama - Miguel Ângelo Lupi, 1880.png António José de Ávila,
Marquis of Ávila (2nd time)
(1807–1881)
29 October
1870
13 September
1871
Reformist 12th Reg.
1871
32 Fontes Pereira de Melo.jpg António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo
(1819–1887)
13 September
1871
6 March
1877
Regenerator 13th Reg.
1874
Longest serving Prime Minister in the Constitutional Monarchy (3 separate terms) and 2nd longest in Portuguese history; Conducted dynamic industrial and public infrastructure policy; educational reform; start of industrialization process.
33 Retrato do Duque d’Ávila e Bolama - Miguel Ângelo Lupi, 1880.png António José de Ávila,
Marquis of Ávila (3rd time)
(1807–1881)
6 March
1877
26 January
1878
Reformist 14th Reg.
34 Fontes Pereira de Melo.jpg António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo (2nd time)
(1819–1887)
26 January
1878
29 May
1879
Regenerator 15th Reg.
1878
Resigned due to a financial scandal surrounding the National Overseas Bank.
35 Anselmo José Braamcamp de Almeida Castelo Branco.jpg Anselmo José Braamcamp de Almeida Castelo Branco
(1817–1885)
29 May
1879
23 March
1881
Progressist 16th Reg.
1879
Government fell after a motion of no confidence was presented.
36 Rodrigues Sampaio.jpg António Rodrigues Sampaio
(1806–1882)
23 March
1881
14 November
1881
Regenerator 17th Reg.
1881
37 Fontes Pereira de Melo.jpg António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo (3rd time)
(1819–1887)
14 November
1881
16 February
1886
Regenerator
1884
Lifetime terms in the Chamber of Most Worthy Peers; Portuguese Army reforms.
38 Luciano de Castro.jpg José Luciano de Castro Pereira Côrte-Real
(1834–1914)
16 February
1886
14 January
1890
Progressist 18th Reg.
1887, 1889 Carlos I
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png
(1889–1908)
Pink Map crisis; Death of king Luís I; Carlos I ascends the throne; 1890 British Ultimatum.
39 Serpa Pimentel.jpg António de Serpa Pimentel
(1825–1900)
14 January
1890
11 October
1890
Regenerator 19th Reg.
1890
Resigned due to the proposed Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1891.
40 Joao Crisostomo de Sousa.jpg João Crisóstomo de Abreu e Sousa
(1811–1895)
11 October
1890
18 January
1892
Independent 20th Reg.
31 January 1891 rebellion in Porto; Signing of the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1891.
41 José Dias Ferreira.jpg José Dias Ferreira
(1837–1909)
18 January
1892
22 February
1893
Independent 21st Reg.
1892
Crisis of "Rotativism" between Regenerators and Progressives; Formed what was known as the "Party calming government".
42 Hintze Ribeiro.jpg Ernesto Rodolfo Hintze Ribeiro
(1849–1907)
22 February
1893
5 February
1897
Regenerator 22nd Reg.
1894, 1895
Insular autonomy for Azores and Madeira islands; Pharmacies' law; Forest's law.
43 Luciano de Castro.jpg José Luciano de Castro Pereira Côrte-Real (2nd time)
(1834–1914)
5 February
1897
26 July
1900
Progressist 23rd Reg.
1897, 1899
Sanitary siege of Porto in 1899 due to bubonic plague.
44 Hintze Ribeiro.jpg Ernesto Rodolfo Hintze Ribeiro (2nd time)
(1849–1907)
26 July
1900
20 October
1904
Regenerator 24th Reg.
1900, 1901, 1904
Electoral law that prevented the election of opponents of the Regenerators.
45 Luciano de Castro.jpg José Luciano de Castro Pereira Côrte-Real (3rd time)
(1834–1914)
20 October
1904
19 March
1906
Progressist 25th Reg.
1905
"Tobacco Issue".
46 Hintze Ribeiro.jpg Ernesto Rodolfo Hintze Ribeiro (3rd time)
(1849–1907)
19 March
1906
19 May
1906
Regenerator 26th Reg.
Apr.1906
Police brutality against republicans upon the arrival of Bernardino Machado in Lisbon; Resigned after just 57 days in government.
47 O conselheiro João Franco, último presidente do Conselho de Dom Carlos.png João Ferreira Franco Pinto Castelo-Branco
(1855–1929)
19 May
1906
4 February
1908
Liberal Regenerator 27th Reg.
Aug.1906
Establishment of an authoritarian government; 28 January 1908 Coup; Lisbon Regicide and death of King Carlos I and other royal family members; Manuel II ascends the throne.
48 Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral.jpg Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral
(1844–1923)
4 February
1908
26 December
1908
Independent 28th Reg. Manuel II
Coats of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal and Algarves (1834 to 1910) - Lesser.png
(1908–1910)
1908
"Government of calm" following the assassination of King Carlos I
49 Artur de Campos Henriques (Arquivo Histórico Parlamentar).png Artur Alberto de Campos Henriques
(1853–1922)
26 December
1908
11 April
1909
Independent
(Regenerator and Progressist)
29th Reg.
50 Sousa Telles.jpg Sebastião Custódio de Sousa Teles
(1847–1921)
11 April
1909
14 May
1909
Independent 30th Reg.
1909 Benavente earthquake
51 Wenceslau Pereira de Lima.jpg Venceslau de Sousa Pereira de Lima
(1858–1919)
14 May
1909
22 December
1909
Independent 31st Reg.
52 Francisco da Veiga Beirão.png Francisco António da Veiga Beirão
(1841–1916)
22 December
1909
26 June
1910
Regenerator 32nd Reg.
53 Teixeira de Sousa.jpg António Teixeira de Sousa
(1857–1917)
26 June
1910
5 October
1910
Regenerator 33rd Reg.
1910
5 October 1910 revolution; End of Monarchy; royal family is exiled in the United Kingdom.

First Republic (1910–1926)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office

Electoral mandates
Political party Government President
(Mandate)
54 Teofilo Braga.jpg Joaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga
(1843–1924)
5 October
1910
4 September
1911
Republican 1st Teófilo Braga
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1910–1911)
1911
5 October 1910 revolution; 1911 Constitution of Portugal; New flag and national anthem; Catholic Church assets nationalized and public manifestations of worship supervised; Severance of relations between the Holy See and Portugal.
55 Joao Pinheiro Chagas.jpg João Pinheiro Chagas
(1863–1925)
4 September
1911
13 November
1911
Republican 2nd Manuel de Arriaga
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1911–1915)
56 AugustodeVasconcelos.jpg Augusto César de Almeida de Vasconcelos Correia
(1867–1951)
13 November
1911
16 June
1912
Republican 3rd
57 Duarte Leite.png Duarte Leite Pereira da Silva
(1864–1950)
16 June
1912
23 September
1912
Republican 4th
Royalist attack on Chaves.
AugustodeVasconcelos.jpg Augusto César de Almeida de Vasconcelos Correia (1867–1951)
(interim)
23 September
1912
30 September
1912
Republican
Duarte Leite.png Duarte Leite Pereira da Silva
(1864–1950)
30 September
1912
9 January
1913
Republican
58 Afonso Costa.jpg Afonso Augusto da Costa
(1871–1937)
9 January
1913
9 February
1914
Democratic 5th
59 Bernardino Machado.jpg Bernardino Luís Machado Guimarães
(1851–1944)
9 February
1914
12 December
1914
Democratic 6th, 7th
Portugal in World War I.
60 VictorAzevedoCoutinho.png Victor Hugo de Azevedo Coutinho
(1871–1955)
12 December
1914
28 January
1915
Democratic 8th
61 Pimenta de Castro.jpg Joaquim Pereira Pimenta de Castro
(1846–1918)
28 January
1915
14 May
1915
Independent 9th
  Constitutional Junta composed of:
José Norton de Matos
António Maria da Silva
José de Freitas Ribeiro
Alfredo de Sá Cardoso
Álvaro de Castro
14 May
1915
15 May
1915
None
Joao Pinheiro Chagas.jpg João Pinheiro Chagas (did not take office)
(1863–1925)
15 May
1915
17 May
1915
Independent 10th, 11th
62 José de Castro.png José Augusto Soares Ribeiro de Castro
(1868–1929)
17 May
1915
29 November
1915
Democratic Teófilo Braga
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1915)
1915
63 Afonso Costa.jpg Afonso Augusto da Costa (2nd time)
(1871–1937)
29 November
1915
16 March
1916
Democratic 12th Bernardino Machado
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1915–1917)
Germany declares war on Portugal.
64 Antonio Jose de Almeida.jpg António José de Almeida
(1866–1929)
16 March
1916
25 April
1917
Sacred Union
(Evolutionist Party with the
Democrats)
13th
65 Afonso Costa.jpg Afonso Augusto da Costa (3rd time)
(1871–1937)
25 April
1917
7 October
1917
Democratic 14th
Sacred Union government.
Norton de Matos (retrato).jpg José Maria Mendes Ribeiro Norton de Matos (1867–1955)
(interim)
7 October
1917
25 October
1917
Democratic
Afonso Costa.jpg Afonso Augusto da Costa
(1871–1937)
25 October
1917
17 November
1917
Democratic
Norton de Matos (retrato).jpg José Maria Mendes Ribeiro Norton de Matos (1867–1955)
(interim)
17 November
1917
8 December
1917
Democratic
December 1917 coup d'état.
66 Sidónio Pais.jpg Sidónio Bernardino Cardoso da Silva Pais
(1872–1918)
8 December
1917
14 December
1918 (died)
National Republican 15th, 16th Sidónio Pais
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1918)
1918
Known as the President-King; establishment of an authoritarian regime; Spanish flu outbreak; assassinated.
67 Canto e Castro.jpg João do Canto e Castro da Silva Antunes Júnior
(1862–1934)
14 December
1918
23 December
1918
National Republican João do Canto e Castro
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1918–1919)
68 Joao tamagnini barbosa 1.jpg João Tamagnini de Sousa Barbosa
(1883–1948)
23 December
1918
27 January
1919
National Republican 17th, 18th
Monarchy of the North.
69 José Relvas.jpg José Maria Mascarenhas Relvas
(1858–1929)
27 January
1919
30 March
1919
Independent 19th
70 DomingosLeitePereira.png Domingos Leite Pereira
(1882–1956)
30 March
1919
30 June
1919
Independent 20th
71 Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso (Arquivo Histórico Parlamentar).png Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso
(1864–1950)
30 June
1919
15 January
1920
Democratic 21st
1919
Fernandes Costa (Album Republicano, 1908).png Francisco José Fernandes Costa (did not take office)
(1857–1925)
15 January
1920
Republican Liberal 22nd António José de Almeida
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1919–1923)
Resigned before being sworn in; Known as the "Five minutes government".
Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso (Arquivo Histórico Parlamentar).png Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso (reconducted)
(1864–1950)
15 January
1920
21 January
1920
Democratic 21st
Invited again to form government; Lasted just 6 days in office.
72 DomingosLeitePereira.png Domingos Leite Pereira (2nd time)
(1882–1956)
21 January
1920
8 March
1920
Independent 23rd
73 Antonio Maria Baptista.jpg António Maria Baptista
(1866–1920)
8 March
1920
6 June
1920 (died)
Democratic 24th
Died during a meeting of the council of ministers, due to a stroke, after reading an insulting letter.
74 José Ramos Preto.png José Ramos Preto
(1871–1949)
6 June
1920
26 June
1920
Democratic
Resigned just 12 days after being sworn in due to backlash for increasing salaries of members of ministerial cabinets.
75 Antonio Maria da Silva.jpg António Maria da Silva
(1872–1950)
26 June
1920
19 July
1920
Democratic
(with the Socialists and Populars)
25th
76 António Granjo.JPG António Joaquim Granjo
(1881–1921)
19 July
1920
20 November
1920
Republican Liberal
(with the Reconstitution Party)
26th
77 Alvaro de Castro1.jpg Álvaro Xavier de Castro
(1878–1928)
20 November
1920
30 November
1920
Democratic
(with Reconstitution Party and Populars)
27th
Held office for just 10 days.
78 Liberato Pinto.jpg Liberato Damião Ribeiro Pinto
(1880–1949)
30 November
1920
2 March
1921
Democratic
(with Reconstitution Party and Populars)
28th
Social unrest; Calls to take power in a dictatorship.
79 Bernardino Machado.jpg Bernardino Luís Machado Guimarães (2nd time)
(1851–1944)
2 March
1921
23 May
1921
Democratic
(with Reconstitution Party and Populars)
29th
Accused of planning a coup to overthrow President António José de Almeida; Forced to resign.
80 Tomé José de Barros Queirós.jpg Tomé José de Barros Queirós
(1872–1925)
23 May
1921
30 August
1921
Republican Liberal 30th
Economic crisis; Request for a loan of 50 million dollars from the United States.
81 António Granjo.JPG António Joaquim Granjo (2nd time)
(1881–1921)
30 August
1921
19 October
1921 (Died)
Republican Liberal 31st
1921
Bloody Night revolt. Assassination of Prime Minister António Granjo.
82 Manuel Maria Coelho.png António Manuel Maria Coelho
(1857–1943)
19 October
1921
5 November
1921
Independent 32nd
Resigned because of fears of a foreign intervention, due to the social and political chaos, of English, French and Spanish warships.
83 Carlos Maia Pinto.jpg Carlos Henrique da Silva Maia Pinto
(1866–1932)
5 November
1921
16 December
1921
Independent 33rd
Resigned after just 40 days in office due to lack of legitimacy after the fallout of the Bloody Night revolt.
84 Francisco Pinto da Cunha Leal (Arquivo Histórico Parlamentar).png Francisco Pinto da Cunha Leal
(1888–1970)
16 December
1921
7 February
1922
Democratic 34th
Social and political unrest; Resigned after a small diplomatic clash with the United Kingdom.
85 Antonio Maria da Silva.jpg António Maria da Silva (2nd time)
(1872–1950)
7 February
1922
15 November
1923
Democratic 35th, 36th, 37th
1922
86 Antonio ginestal machado.jpg António Ginestal Machado
(1874–1940)
15 November
1923
18 December
1923
Nationalist Republican 38th Manuel Teixeira Gomes
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1923–1925)
10 December 1923 failed coup; Resigned due to the fallout.
87 Alvaro de Castro1.jpg Álvaro Xavier de Castro (2nd time)
(1878–1928)
18 December
1923
7 July
1924
Nationalist Republican
(with the Democratics)
39th
Conflict between the government and the military aviation; Fights in a duel one of the members of the military aviation revolt; Resigns shortly after.
88 Alfredo Rodrigues Gaspar (Arquivo Histórico Parlamentar).png Alfredo Rodrigues Gaspar
(1865–1938)
7 July
1924
22 November
1924
Democratic 40th
89 Domigues dos santos.jpg José Domingues dos Santos
(1885–1958)
22 November
1924
15 February
1925
Democratic Leftwing Republican 41st
Resigned after a motion of censorship in Parliament was approved.
90 Vitorino Máximo de Carvalho Guimarães (Arquivo Histórico Municipal).png Vitorino Máximo de Carvalho Guimarães
(1876–1957)
15 February
1925
1 July
1925
Democratic 42nd
91 Antonio Maria da Silva.jpg António Maria da Silva (3rd time)
(1872–1950)
1 July
1925
1 August
1925
Democratic 43rd
Held office for just 30 days.
92 DomingosLeitePereira.png Domingos Leite Pereira (3rd time)
(1882–1956)
1 August
1925
18 December
1925
Democratic 44th
Portuguese Bank Note Crisis, also known as the "Alves dos Reis scandal".
93 Antonio Maria da Silva.jpg António Maria da Silva (4th time)
(1872–1950)
18 December
1925
30 May
1926
Democratic 45th Bernardino Machado
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1925–1926)
1925
28 May 1926 coup d'état; Fall of the First Republic.

Second Republic (1926–1974)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office

Electoral mandates
Political party Government President
(Mandate)
Ditadura Nacional – Military Dictatorship (1926–1932)
94 President José Mendes Cabeçadas.jpg José Mendes Cabeçadas Júnior
(1883–1965)
30 May
1926
19 June
1926
None 1st Dict. José Mendes Cabeçadas
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1926)
28 May 1926 coup d'état; Forced to resign.
95 Gomes da costa.jpg Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa
(1863–1929)
19 June
1926
9 July
1926
None 2nd Dict. Manuel Gomes da CostaCoat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1926)
9 July 1926 Counter-revolution; Forced to resign and sent to exile in the Azores.
96 Retrato do Presidente da República Óscar Carmona - Photographia Ingleza de J. & M. Lazarus (Museu da Presidência da República).png António Óscar Fragoso Carmona
(1869–1951)
9 July
1926
18 April
1928
None 3rd Dict. António Óscar Carmona
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1926–1951)
February 1927 Revolt; Nomination of António de Oliveira Salazar as Finance Minister; Strong austerity and fiscal consolidation.
97 José Vicente de Freitas.JPG José Vicente de Freitas
(1869–1952)
18 April
1928
8 July
1929
None 4th Dict.
5th Dict.
Resigned due to internal government disagreements over separation of church and state.
98 Artur Ivens Ferraz - 1923.jpg Artur Ivens Ferraz
(1870–1933)
8 July
1929
21 January
1930
None 6th Dict.
Resigned due to disagreements with Salazar over the future of the regime.
99 Domingos Oliveira.jpg Domingos Augusto Alves da Costa e Oliveira
(1873–1957)
21 January
1930
5 July
1932
National Union 7th Dict.
1931 Madeira uprising; 26 August 1931 Revolt.
Estado Novo – New State (1932–1974)
100 António de Oliveira Salazar portrait (by Manuel Alves San Payo) – Lisboa.jpg António de Oliveira Salazar
(1889–1970)
5 July
1932
25 September
1968
National Union 8th Dict.
9th Dict.
10th Dict.

1934, 1938, 1942, 1945, 1949, 1953, 1957, 1961, 1965

Francisco Craveiro Lopes
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1951–1958)
Longest-serving prime minister in Portuguese history; Formation of the Estado Novo; Portuguese Constitution of 1933; Strong economic and fiscal stabilization; Spanish Civil War; 1936 Naval Revolt; Concordat of 1940 between Portugal and the Holy See; Portugal neutrality during World War II; Marshall Plan; Repression of civil liberties and political freedoms; co-founder of United Nations, NATO, OCDE and EFTA; 1958 Presidential election fallout; 1960s Economic expansion; loss of Portuguese India; 1961 "Abrilada" attempted coup; Portuguese Colonial War; 1962 Academic Crisis; 1967 Lisbon floods; Replaced after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Américo Tomás
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1958–1974)
101 Marcello caetano.jpg Marcello José das Neves Alves Caetano
(1906–1980)
25 September
1968
25 April
1974
National Union
from 1970
People's National Action
11th Dict.
1969, 1973
Marceloist Spring of 1968–70; 1969 Portugal earthquake; Economic expansion (until 1973), Portuguese Colonial War; 1973 oil crisis; Attempted March 1974 coup "Caldas Resurgence"; Carnation Revolution; Flown under custody to Madeira and, later, went into exile to Brazil;

Third Republic (1974–present)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office

Electoral mandates
Political party Government President
(Mandate)
Provisional Governments of the Revolutionary Period (1974–1976)
  National Salvation Junta
composed of:
António de Spínola, Francisco da Costa Gomes
Jaime Silvério Marques, Diogo Neto, Carlos Galvão de Melo
José Baptista Pinheiro de Azevedo, António Alva Rosa Coutinho
25 April
1974
16 May
1974
None António de Spínola
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1974)
Military junta designated to maintain government following the Carnation Revolution.
102
Adelino da Palma Carlos - Ilustração Portugueza (09Fev1924).png
Adelino da Palma Carlos
(1905–1992)
16 May
1974
18 July
1974
Independent Prov. I
Lawyer, opponent of the Estado Novo, appointed by Presidential nomination; Led a broad-based cabinet; Resigned due to disagreements with the electoral calendar.
103
Vasco Goncalves 1982 Henrique Matos 01 (cropped).jpg
Vasco dos Santos Gonçalves
(1921–2005)
18 July
1974
19 September
1975
Independent Prov. II
Prov. III
Prov. IV Francisco da Costa Gomes
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg(1974–1976)
Prov. V
1975 Cst.
Army colonel; Beginning of the decolonization of the Portuguese colonies in Africa; Nationalization of banks and insurance companies after the events of 11 March 1975; Land reform; Introduction of a minimum wage; PREC; Dismissed by President Costa Gomes.
104 José Baptista Pinheiro de Azevedo
(1917–1983)
19 September
1975
23 June
1976
Independent Prov. VI
Admiral; Signature of the declaration of independence of Angola and official end of the Portuguese Colonial War; November 1975 Parliament siege; Coup of 25 November 1975; Approval of the new Constitution.
Vasco Fernando Leotte de Almeida e Costa
(1932–2010)
interim
23 June
1976
23 July
1976
Independent (Prov. VI)
Minister of Internal Administration under Pinheiro de Azevedo; Becomes interim Prime Minister when Azevedo suffered a heart attack.
Prime Ministers heading Constitutional Governments (1976–present)
105 Mário Soares par Claude Truong-Ngoc 1978.png Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares
(1924–2017)
23 July
1976
28 August
1978
Socialist I António Ramalho Eanes
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1976–1986)
II
1976
First democratically appointed prime minister; 1976-1978 economic crisis; International Monetary Fund loan; Submission of the candidacy of Portugal to the EEC; Resigned after disagreements with CDS.
106 Alfredo Jorge Nobre da Costa
(1923–1996)
28 August
1978
22 November
1978
Independent III
Appointed by Presidential nomination. Resigned after his cabinet failed to gain Parliamentary support.
107 Carlos Alberto da Mota Pinto
(1936–1985)
22 November
1978
1 August
1979
Independent IV
Appointed by Presidential nomination; Resigned after failure to pass policies in Parliament.
108 Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo (1986) (cropped).jpg Maria de Lourdes Ruivo da Silva de Matos Pintasilgo
(1930–2004)
1 August
1979
3 January
1980
Independent V
Appointed by Presidential nomination. First and only female Prime Minister of Portugal; Foundation of the NHS (National Health Service).
109 Francisco Sá Carneiro.jpg Francisco Manuel Lumbrales de Sá Carneiro
(1934–1980)
3 January
1980
4 December
1980 (died)
Social Democratic VI
1979, 1980
First centre-right prime minister since the Revolution; 1980 Azores Islands earthquake; Died in a plane crash. The accident triggered a number of conspiracy theories.
Freitas do Amaral, XV Cimeira Ibero-Americana - Salamanca, Espanha (cropped).jpg Diogo Pinto de Freitas do Amaral
(1941–2019)
interim
4 December
1980
9 January
1981
Democratic and Social Centre (VI)
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister under Francisco Sá Carneiro; interim Prime Minister upon Sá Carneiro's death.
110 Francisco Pinto Balsemão 1982 (cropped).jpg Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão
(1937–)
9 January
1981
9 June
1983
Social Democratic VII
VIII
1982 constitutional revision; Abolition of the Council of the Revolution; Creation of the Constitutional Court; First general strike in democracy; Resigned after a poor result in the 1982 local elections.
111 Mário Soares par Claude Truong-Ngoc 1978.png Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares
(1924–2017)
(2nd time)
9 June
1983
6 November
1985
Socialist IX
1983
Central Bloc (PS/PSD) coalition; Portugal's entry to the EEC; Dona Branca scandal; 1983-1985 economic crisis; International Monetary Fund loan; Moimenta-Alcafache train crash; Resigned after the Central Bloc coalition split.
112 Cavaco Silva 1988.png Aníbal António Cavaco Silva
(1939–)
6 November
1985
28 October
1995
Social Democratic X
XI Mário Soares
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1986–1996)
XII
1985, 1987, 1991
Longest serving prime minister in democracy and 3rd longest in Portuguese history; economic expansion; privatization of many previously government-owned industries; First time a single party won an absolute majority since the revolution; Chiado 1988 fire; 1989 and 1992 constitutional revisions; "Secos e molhados" police protests; Signing of the Maastricht Treaty; End of the Cold War; Bicesse Accords; Gulf War; 1992 Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union; Legalization of private TV channels; Early 1990s recession; Riots against tolls on 25 April Bridge.
113 Antonio Guterres 1-1.jpg António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
(1949–)
28 October
1995
6 April
2002
Socialist XIII
XIV Jorge Sampaio
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(1996–2006)
1995, 1999
Economic expansion; Expo 98; 1998 Regionalisation referendum; 1998 Azores Islands earthquake; Macau handover; East Timor issue; 1997 and 2001 constitutional revisions; 2000 Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union; Hintze Ribeiro Bridge disaster; Portugal joins the European single currency; Resigned after a disastrous result in the 2001 local elections.
114 Barroso EPP Summit er 2010.jpg José Manuel Durão Barroso
(1956–)
6 April
2002
17 July
2004
Social Democratic XV
2002
Prestige disaster; 2003 Portuguese wildfires; Iraq War; UEFA Euro 2004; 2004 constitutional revision; Resigned to become President of the European Commission.
115 Pedro Santana Lopes 01.jpg Pedro Miguel de Santana Lopes
(1956–)
17 July
2004
12 March
2005
Social Democratic XVI
Mayor of Lisbon (2002–2004, 2005). Replaced José Manuel Barroso as Prime Minister; Resigned due to the dissolution of Parliament by the President.
116 José Sócrates 2006 (cropped).jpg José Sócrates de Carvalho Pinto de Sousa
(1957–)
12 March
2005
21 June
2011
Socialist XVII
XVIII Aníbal Cavaco Silva
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(2006–2016)
2005, 2009
First time the Socialist Party won an absolute majority; 2005 constitutional revision; 2005 Portuguese wildfires; 2007 Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union; Treaty of Lisbon; Independente affair; Face Oculta scandal; Nationalization of BPN; Same-sex marriage legislation; 2011 Portuguese protests; 2010–2014 Portuguese financial crisis; Resigned after failure to pass austerity measures in Parliament.
117 Pedro Passos Coelho 2014 (cropped).jpg Pedro Manuel Mamede Passos Coelho
(1964–)
21 June
2011
26 November
2015
Social Democratic XIX
XX
2011, 2015
2010–2014 Portuguese financial crisis; 2011 Portuguese IMF/ECB bailout; Secret Services and Ongoing espionage scandal; 15 September 2012 mass protests; European Fiscal Union approval; 2013 governmental crisis and reshuffle; 2014 Banco Espírito Santo bankruptcy and money laundering scandal; Arrest of former Prime Minister José Sócrates; Won the 2015 election but lost his majority; Defeated in a vote of no confidence and removed from office.
118 António Costa- 2017 - Web Summit - 24778904437 (cropped).jpg António Luís Santos da Costa
(1961–)
26 November
2015
2 April
2024
Socialist XXI
XXII Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Coat of arms of Portugal (Lesser).svg
(2016–present)
XXIII
2019, 2022
First Prime Minister from the second largest party in the elections; Formed a parliamentary agreement with BE, PCP and PEV; June 2017 Portugal wildfires; Tancos arms theft scandal; October 2017 Iberian wildfires; COVID-19 pandemic; 2020 stock market crash and subsequent recession; 2021 Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union; 2021–2023 inflation surge; Resigned following the Operation Influencer corruption investigation.
119 Luis Montenegro at EPP Summit, 21 March, Brussels.jpg Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves
(1973–)
2 April
2024
Incumbent Social Democratic XXIV
2024
Minority government led by the Democratic Alliance coalition.

Timeline

Luís Montenegro António Costa Pedro Passos Coelho José Sócrates Santana Lopes Durão Barroso António Guterres Cavaco Silva Pinto Balsemão Freitas do Amaral Sá Carneiro Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo Mota Pinto Nobre da Costa Mário Soares Almeida e Costa Pinheiro de Azevedo Vasco Gonçalves Palma Carlos Junta de Salvação Nacional Marcello Caetano António de Oliveira Salazar Costa Oliveira Ivens Ferraz Vicente de Freitas Óscar Carmona Gomes da Costa Mendes Cabeçadas Vitorino Máximo de Carvalho Guimarães José Domingues dos Santos Alfredo Rodrigues Gaspar António Ginestal Machado Francisco Pinto da Cunha Leal Carlos Henrique da Silva Maia Pinto Manuel Maria Coelho Tomé José de Barros Queirós Liberato Damião Ribeiro Pinto Álvaro Xavier de Castro António Joaquim Granjo António Maria da Silva José Ramos Preto António Maria Baptista Francisco José Fernandes Costa Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso Domingos Leite Pereira José de Mascarenhas Relvas João Tamagnini de Sousa Barbosa João do Canto e Castro Sidónio Pais António José de Almeida José Ribeiro de Castro Junta Constitucional Joaquim Pimenta de Castro Vítor Hugo de Azevedo Coutinho Bernardino Machado Afonso Costa Duarte Leite Pereira da Silva Augusto César de Almeida de Vasconcelos Correia João Pinheiro Chagas Teófilo Braga António Teixeira de Sousa Francisco António da Veiga Beirão Venceslau de Sousa Pereira de Lima Sebastião Custódio de Sousa Teles Artur Alberto de Campos Henriques Francisco Joaquim Ferreira do Amaral João Franco Ernesto Rodolfo Hintze Ribeiro José Dias Ferreira João Crisóstomo de Abreu e Sousa António de Serpa Pimentel José Luciano de Castro António Rodrigues Sampaio Anselmo José Braamcamp António Maria de Fontes Pereira de Melo António José de Ávila Nuno José Severo de Mendonça Rolim de Moura Barreto António Bernardo da Costa Cabral Joaquim António de Aguiar José Travassos Valdez Rodrigo Pinto Pizarro de Almeida Carvalhais António Dias de Oliveira Bernardo de Sá Nogueira de Figueiredo José Bernardino de Portugal e Castro José da Gama Carneiro e Sousa António José Severim de Noronha, 1.º Duque da Terceira José Jorge Loureiro João Oliveira e Daun, Duque de Saldanha Vitório Maria de Sousa Coutinho, 2nd Count of Linhares Pedro de Sousa Holstein

See also

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