President of Portugal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of the Portuguese Republic
Presidential standard [pt]
Coat of arms used by the presidency
Incumbent António José Seguro since 9 March 2026 (2026-03-09)
Sovereignty body of Portugal Presidential Office [pt]
Style	Mr. President (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	PR
Member of	Council of State Superior Council of National Defense [pt]
Residence	Belém Palace
Seat	Lisbon, Portugal
Appointer	Direct election or via succession
Term length	Five years renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Portugal (1976)
Precursor	President of the provisional government
Formation	24 August 1911 (114 years ago) (1911-08-24)
First holder	Manuel de Arriaga
Salary	€137,662 annually

The President of Portugal is the leader of the country. This important role is officially called the President of the Portuguese Republic. The President is the head of state, which means they represent Portugal to the world.

Portugal has a special system of government. It is called a semi-presidential system. This means the President has some powers, but the Prime Minister and the government handle most daily tasks. The President makes sure that laws passed by the parliament are officially approved. They can also send laws back for review if they have concerns. This ensures all laws follow the country's main rules.

The President acts like a "moderator." They help balance the different parts of the government. This includes the lawmakers, the government, and the courts.

The current President of Portugal is António José Seguro. He started his term on March 9, 2026.

What the President Does

Portugal's government is a semi-presidential system. This means the President has important duties. They have more power than some other European presidents. The President helps guide the country, especially in national security and how Portugal works with other countries. However, they always listen to the government and parliament.

The President is also the top leader of the armed forces. This means they are in charge of the military. It is the highest office in the country.

Long ago, the President's powers were very different. After a big change in 1974, Portugal became a democracy. Since then, the President's role has been focused on protecting the country's rules and freedoms.

Choosing the Prime Minister

One of the President's biggest jobs is to choose the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister leads the government. However, the chosen Prime Minister must have the support of the parliament. If not, parliament can remove the government.

The President can also decide to dissolve parliament. This means new elections must be held. For example, President Jorge Sampaio did this in 2004. He wanted to change the government at that time.

Leading the Armed Forces

The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This gives them a special role in military decisions. For instance, in 2003, President Sampaio limited Portugal's involvement in a conflict abroad. He did not want the Portuguese Army to go. Instead, a different military force, the National Republican Guard, was sent.

President's Main Powers

The Constitution gives the President several important powers:

• The President is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. They also appoint the top military leaders.
• The President can dissolve the parliament. This leads to new elections and a new government.
• The President appoints the Prime Minister. They also appoint other government members, based on the Prime Minister's suggestions. The President can also dismiss the government if needed.
• The President can declare a state of siege or emergency. This happens after talking with the government and getting parliament's approval.
• The President can declare war or make peace. This also needs the government's proposal and parliament's approval.
• The President approves or vetoes new laws. If they veto a law, it goes back for review.
• The President approves international agreements with other countries.
• The President can ask the Constitutional Court to check if a law follows the Constitution.
• The President appoints other important state officials. These include representatives for the autonomous regions and top legal officers.
• The President appoints ambassadors to other countries. They also welcome foreign diplomats to Portugal.
• The President can grant pardons or reduce sentences for people. This is done after hearing from the government.

How the President is Elected

The President is chosen by the people of Portugal. They serve for a term of five years. To become President, a person must be Portuguese and at least 35 years old. A President can be re-elected, but only for two terms in a row.

The election uses a two-round system. If no candidate wins more than half the votes in the first round, the top two candidates compete again. This second vote happens two weeks later. This second round has only been needed twice, in 1986 and 2026.

Most presidents since 1974 have served two terms. They are often very popular with the public.

What Happens if a President Cannot Serve

If a President cannot finish their term, the President of the Assembly of the Republic takes over. They have limited powers until a new President is elected. If that person is also unavailable, other leaders in the Assembly follow in a specific order. This ensures the country always has a leader.

This is the current presidential line of succession for Portugal:

The President's Home: Belém Palace

Facade of the Belém Palace

Belém Palace is the official home of the President of Portugal. It has been used for this purpose since 1910. The palace was built a long time ago, in the 16th century. A diplomat named Manuel de Portugal first owned it. 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, António José Seguro, does not live in the palace.

The 2026 Presidential Election

The most recent election for President was in 2026. Here are the results:

How the President Travels

The President uses special vehicles for official travel.

• 

  Official Presidential car, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class model.

• 

  A Dassault Falcon 50 airplane used by the President.

A Look at Past Presidents

This timeline shows the different Presidents of Portugal since 1910.

Living Former Presidents of Portugal

• 

  António Ramalho Eanes
  (1976–1986)
  (1935-01-25) 25 January 1935 (age 91)

• 

  Aníbal Cavaco Silva
  (2006–2016)
  (1939-07-15) 15 July 1939 (age 86)

• 

  Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
  (2016–2026)
  (1948-12-12) 12 December 1948 (age 77)

Images for kids

• 

  Presidential Office

• 

  Bicas room

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Portugal para niños

• Politics of Portugal