President of Portugal facts for kids

The President of Portugal is the country's leader and highest official. This person is the head of state for the Portuguese Republic.

Portugal has a special type of government called a semi-presidential system. This means the president doesn't directly run the government every day, like the president in the United States. Instead, the Prime Minister and the Parliament handle most of the daily government work. However, the President of Portugal still has important powers. For example, the president must approve all new laws before they become official. The president can also say "no" to a law (this is called a veto), or ask the Constitutional Court to check if a law follows the Constitution. This makes the president a "moderating power," helping to balance the different parts of the government.

The current President of Portugal is Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He started his job on March 9, 2016.

What the President Does

Portugal's government is a semi-presidential system. Even though the president is often seen as a more ceremonial figure, they have more powers than many other presidents in Europe. The president has a lot of influence, especially in areas like national security and how Portugal deals with other countries (foreign policy). However, they always work with the government's advice and parliament's approval.

The president is also the top commander of the Armed Forces. This means they are the most senior official in the country and rank higher than other politicians.

In the past, before the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the president's powers changed a lot. Some presidents were very powerful, almost like dictators, while others had very little real power.

Choosing the Prime Minister

One of the president's biggest powers is choosing the Prime Minister. But there's a catch: the parliament (Assembly of the Republic) is the only group that can remove the prime minister's government. So, the president must choose someone who has the support of most of the people in parliament. If not, the prime minister could quickly face a vote of no confidence and be removed.

The president can also decide to dissolve parliament whenever they think it's necessary. This is sometimes called the "atomic bomb" power in Portugal. For example, President Jorge Sampaio used this power in 2004 to remove a government he disagreed with, even though most members of parliament supported it.

Leading the Armed Forces

The president is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This gives them a lot of say in military matters. In 2003, President Sampaio used this power to limit Portugal's involvement in the Iraq War. He did not allow the Portuguese Army to be sent to a war he personally disagreed with. This led to a disagreement with the prime minister at the time. Because of this, the government sent members of the National Republican Guard instead, as they are a military force but not part of the Armed Forces.

President's Powers

The Portuguese Constitution gives the president many important powers:

• The president is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. They also appoint and remove the top leaders of the military branches, based on the government's suggestions.
• The president can dissolve the Assembly of the Republic (parliament). If this happens, new elections must be held, and the current government must resign.
• The president appoints the Prime Minister, usually after looking at election results. They also appoint other government members suggested by the Prime Minister. The president can also dismiss the government if it's needed for the country's democratic system to work properly.
• The president can dissolve the local governments of Portugal's autonomous regions if they do something seriously against the Constitution.
• The president can declare a state of siege (a serious emergency) or a state of emergency. They do this after talking with the government and getting permission from the Assembly of the Republic.
• The president can declare war if the country is being attacked or is about to be attacked. They do this based on a government proposal and with permission from the Assembly of the Republic. They can also make peace.
• The president approves (promulgates) or signs all laws, decrees, and other government decisions. This means they can also veto (say no to) these laws or decisions.
• In international relations, the president approves international treaties.
• The president decides whether to hold a referendum (a public vote on a specific issue) if the Assembly of the Republic proposes it.
• The president can ask the Constitutional Court to check if new laws or international agreements follow the Constitution before they are approved.
• The president appoints and removes leaders of important state bodies. These include the representatives for the autonomous regions, the head of the Court of Auditors, the Attorney General, five members of the Council of State, and two members of the Superior Council of the Judiciary.
• The president appoints ambassadors to other countries and welcomes foreign ambassadors to Portugal.
• After talking with the government, the president can grant pardons (forgive someone for a crime) or reduce sentences for prisoners.

How the President is Elected

The President of Portugal is elected for a five-year term. To be a candidate, a person must be of Portuguese origin and at least 35 years old. A president can be reelected many times, 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 two candidates with the most votes go to a second election two weeks later. This second round has only been needed once, in the 1986 election.

Most presidents elected since 1974 have served two terms in a row. They are usually very popular political figures in the country. However, former president Aníbal Cavaco Silva became less popular during his time in office. More recently, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has also seen his popularity ratings go down.

What Happens if the President Can't Serve?

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

President's Residence

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  The front of the Belém Palace.

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  The President's office inside the palace.

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  The Bicas room in the palace.

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, in the 18th century, King John V bought it. It was one of the homes for the Royal Family until the early 1900s.

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

Travel

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  The official car used by the President, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in 2010.

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  A Dassault Falcon 50, used for presidential travel.

See also

• Politics of Portugal