President of Portugal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Portuguese Republic
Presidential standard
Coat of arms used by the presidency
Incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa since 9 March 2016
Presidential Office of the Portuguese Republic
Style	Mr President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Council of State Superior Council of National Defense
Residence	Belém Palace
Seat	Lisbon, Portugal
Appointer	Direct election
Term length	Five years, renewable once consecutively
Precursor	Monarch
Formation	5 October 1910; 114 years ago (1910-10-05)
First holder	Manuel de Arriaga
Deputy	President of the Assembly
Salary	€137,662 annually

The President of Portugal is the country's head of state. This means they are the highest-ranking official in Portugal. The official title is the President of the Portuguese Republic.

Portugal has a special type of government called a semi-presidential system. In this system, the president is not in charge of the day-to-day running of the government. That job belongs to the Prime Minister. However, the president still has important powers. For example, the president must approve all new laws passed by the parliament. If the president doesn't agree with a law, they can send it back to parliament to be reviewed. This is called a veto. The president also acts like a "moderator," making sure the different parts of the government work well together.

The current President of Portugal is Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He became president on March 9, 2016.

What Does the President Do?

Portugal's government is a semi-presidential system. This means the president has more power than presidents in many other European countries. Even though the prime minister and parliament handle most government tasks, the president has a lot of influence. This is especially true in areas like national security and how Portugal deals with other countries.

The president is also the supreme commander of the Armed Forces. This means they are the top leader of the military. The president holds the highest office in the country and is ranked above all other politicians.

Choosing the Prime Minister

One of the president's biggest powers is choosing the prime minister. However, the prime minister must have the support of most members in the parliament. If the prime minister loses this support, parliament can remove them from office.

The president can also decide to dissolve parliament. This means new elections must be held. This power is sometimes called the "atomic bomb" in Portugal. For example, President Jorge Sampaio used this power in 2004 to remove a government he disagreed with.

Leading the Armed Forces

The president is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This gives them a say in military matters. In 2003, President Sampaio used his power to limit Portugal's involvement in the Iraq War. He did not allow the Portuguese Army to be sent to the war. This caused a disagreement with the prime minister at the time.

Powers of the President

The Portuguese Constitution gives the president several important powers:

• The president is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. They appoint and remove the top military leaders.
• The president can dissolve the Assembly of the Republic. This leads to new elections and the government stepping down.
• The president appoints the prime minister, usually after elections. They also appoint other government members suggested by the prime minister. The president can also remove the government if needed for the country to function properly.
• The president can dissolve the governments of Portugal's autonomous regions (like the Azores or Madeira) if they do things against the Constitution.
• The president can declare a state of siege or emergency. This happens after talking with the government and getting permission from parliament.
• The president can declare war or make peace. This needs a proposal from the government and permission from parliament.
• The president approves or vetoes laws, decrees, and other government decisions.
• The president signs international agreements and treaties.
• The president decides if a referendum (a public vote on an issue) should be held, if parliament suggests it.
• The president can ask the Constitutional Court to check if a law or treaty follows the Constitution.
• The president appoints important state officials. These include representatives for the autonomous regions and members of the Council of State.
• The president appoints ambassadors to other countries and welcomes foreign diplomats.
• The president can grant pardons or reduce sentences for people who have committed crimes, after talking with the government.

How the President is Elected

The President of Portugal is elected for a five-year term. To be president, a person must be of Portuguese origin and at least 35 years old. A president can be reelected, but only twice in a row. The official home of the Portuguese president is the Belém Palace in Lisbon.

The election uses a two-round system. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the top two candidates compete in a second round two weeks later. So far, the second round has only been needed once, in the 1986 election. Most presidents since 1974 have served two terms.

What Happens if the President Can't Serve?

If the president dies or becomes unable to do their job, the president of the Assembly of the Republic takes over. They have limited powers until a new president can be elected.

The President's Home

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  Facade of the Belém Palace.

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  Presidential Office.

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  Bicas room.

The Belém Palace has been the official home of the President of the Portuguese Republic since 1910. It was built in the 16th century by a diplomat named Manuel de Portugal. Later, King John V bought it in the 18th century. It was a home for the Royal Family until the early 1900s.

The current President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, lives in the palace.

Last Election

2021 Presidential Election

Travel

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  Official Presidential car, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in 2010.

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  A Dassault Falcon 50, used by the President.

Timeline of Presidents (Since 1910)

See Also

In Spanish: Presidente de Portugal para niños

• Politics of Portugal