List of prime ministers of Portugal

* 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.

Politics of Portugal

Constitution

Executive

* President (list)

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
* Prime Minister (list)

Luís Montenegro
* Cabinet

Legislature

* Assembly of the Republic

President: José Pedro Aguiar-Branco

Judiciary

* Constitutional Court
* Supreme Court of Justice
* Court of Auditors
* Supreme Administrative Court

Elections

* Recent elections

* Presidential: 2016
* 2021
* 2026

* Legislative:
* 2022
* 2024
* 2025

* Local: 2017
* 2021
* 2025

* European: 2014
* 2019
* 2024

* Political parties

Politicians

Administrative divisions

* Districts
* Autonomous regions
* Municipalities (list)
* Freguesias (list)

Foreign relations

* Spain-Portugal relations
* Portugal–United Kingdom relations
* France–Portugal relations
* Italy–Portugal relations
* Brazil-Portugal relations
* Portugal–United States relations
* China–Portugal relations
* Angola–Portugal relations
* Mozambique–Portugal relations
* Canada–Portugal relations
* Portugal–Sweden relations

* Portugal portal

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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)

[edit]

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

Electoral mandates  | Political party  | Government  | Monarch
(Reign)

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 |  | Pedro de Sousa Holstein,
Marquis of Palmela
(1781–1850) | 24 September
1834  | 4 May
1835  | Chartist/"Chamorro"  | 1st Dev. | Maria II
(1834–1853)
and Fernando II
(1837–1853)
1834
Portugal's first official prime minister; First Devourism government.
2 |  | Vitório Maria de Sousa Coutinho,
Count of Linhares
(1790–1857) | 4 May
1835  | 27 May
1835  | "Chamorro"

3 |  | 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
(1791–1860) | 18 November
1835  | 20 April
1836  | Independent  | 3rd Dev.

Third Devourism government; Government fell after failure to pass a budget.
5 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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
(1804–1863) | 1 June
1837  | 2 August
1837  | Septemberist | 3rd Set.

Revolt of the Marshals.
9 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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
(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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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

(1853–1861)
Death of queen Maria II; Pedro V ascends the throne.
20 |  | 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 |  | 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 (2nd time)
(1792–1884) | 1 May
1860  | 4 July
1860  | Regenerator

23 |  | 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

(1861–1889)
Death of king Pedro V; Luís I ascends the throne.
24 |  | 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 (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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | António José de Ávila,
Marquis of Ávila (2nd time)
(1807–1881) | 29 October
1870  | 13 September
1871  | Reformist | 12th Reg.
1871
32 |  | 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 |  | António José de Ávila,
Marquis of Ávila (3rd time)
(1807–1881) | 6 March
1877  | 26 January
1878  | Reformist | 14th Reg.

34 |  | 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
(1817–1885) | 29 May
1879  | 23 March
1881  | Progressist | 16th Reg.
1879
Government fell after a motion of no confidence was presented.
36 |  | António Rodrigues Sampaio
(1806–1882) | 23 March
1881  | 14 November
1881  | Regenerator | 17th Reg.
1881
37 |  | 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 |  | José Luciano de Castro Pereira Côrte-Real
(1834–1914) | 16 February
1886  | 14 January
1890  | Progressist | 18th Reg.
1887, 1889 | Carlos I

(1889–1908)
Pink Map crisis; Death of king Luís I; Carlos I ascends the throne; 1890 British Ultimatum.
39 |  | 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 |  | 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
(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 |  | 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 |  | 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 |  | Ernesto Rodolfo Hintze Ribeiro (2nd time)
(1849–1907) | 26 July
1900  | 20 October
1904  | Regenerator | 24th Reg.
1900, 1901, 1904
"Ignoble crap" electoral law that prevented the election of opponents of the Regenerators.
45 |  | José Luciano de Castro Pereira Côrte-Real (3rd time)
(1834–1914) | 20 October
1904  | 19 March
1906  | Progressist | 25th Reg.
1905
"Tobacco Issue".
46 |  | 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 |  | 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
(1844–1923) | 4 February
1908  | 26 December
1908  | Independent  | 28th Reg. | Manuel II

(1908–1910)
1908
"Government of calm" following the assassination of King Carlos I
49 |  | Artur Alberto de Campos Henriques
(1853–1922) | 26 December
1908  | 11 April
1909  | Independent
(Regenerator and Progressist)  | 29th Reg.

50 |  | Sebastião Custódio de Sousa Teles
(1847–1921) | 11 April
1909  | 14 May
1909  | Independent  | 30th Reg.

1909 Benavente earthquake
51 |  | Venceslau de Sousa Pereira de Lima
(1858–1919) | 14 May
1909  | 22 December
1909  | Independent  | 31st Reg.

52 |  | Francisco António da Veiga Beirão
(1841–1916) | 22 December
1909  | 26 June
1910  | Regenerator | 32nd Reg.

53 |  | 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)

[edit]

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

Electoral mandates  | Political party  | Government  | President
(Mandate)

|
|
|
|
|
|

54 |  | Joaquim Teófilo Fernandes Braga
(1843–1924) | 5 October
1910  | 4 September
1911  | Republican | 1st | Teófilo Braga

(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 |  | João Pinheiro Chagas
(1863–1925) | 4 September
1911  | 13 November
1911  | Republican | 2nd | Manuel de Arriaga

(1911–1915)

56 |  | Augusto César de Almeida de Vasconcelos Correia
(1867–1951) | 13 November
1911  | 16 June
1912  | Republican | 3rd

57 |  | Duarte Leite Pereira da Silva
(1864–1950) | 16 June
1912  | 23 September
1912  | Republican | 4th

Royalist attack on Chaves.
—  |  | Augusto César de Almeida de Vasconcelos Correia (1867–1951)
(interim)  | 23 September
1912  | 30 September
1912  | Republican

| Duarte Leite Pereira da Silva
(1864–1950) | 30 September
1912  | 9 January
1913  | Republican

58 |  | Afonso Augusto da Costa
(1871–1937) | 9 January
1913  | 9 February
1914  | Democratic | 5th

59 |  | Bernardino Luís Machado Guimarães
(1851–1944) | 9 February
1914  | 12 December
1914  | Democratic | 6th, 7th

Portugal in World War I.
60 |  | Victor Hugo de Azevedo Coutinho
(1871–1955) | 12 December
1914  | 28 January
1915  | Democratic | 8th

61 |  | 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  | —

—  |  | João Pinheiro Chagas (did not take office)
(1863–1925) | 15 May
1915  | 17 May
1915  | Independent  | 10th, 11th

62 |  | José Augusto Soares Ribeiro de Castro
(1868–1929) | 17 May
1915  | 29 November
1915  | Democratic | Teófilo Braga

(1915)
1915
63 |  | Afonso Augusto da Costa (2nd time)
(1871–1937) | 29 November
1915  | 16 March
1916  | Democratic | 12th | Bernardino Machado

(1915–1917)

Germany declares war on Portugal.
64 |  | António José de Almeida
(1866–1929) | 16 March
1916  | 25 April
1917  | Sacred Union
(Evolutionist Party with the
Democrats)  | 13th

65 |  | Afonso Augusto da Costa (3rd time)
(1871–1937) | 25 April
1917  | 7 October
1917  | Democratic | 14th

Sacred Union government.
—  |  | José Maria Mendes Ribeiro Norton de Matos (1867–1955)
(interim)  | 7 October
1917  | 25 October
1917  | Democratic

| Afonso Augusto da Costa
(1871–1937) | 25 October
1917  | 17 November
1917  | Democratic

| José Maria Mendes Ribeiro Norton de Matos (1867–1955)
(interim)  | 17 November
1917  | 8 December
1917  | Democratic

December 1917 coup d'état.
66 |  | Sidónio Bernardino Cardoso da Silva Pais
(1872–1918) | 8 December
1917  | 14 December
1918 (died) | National Republican | 15th, 16th | Sidónio Pais

(1918)
1918
Known as the President-King; establishment of an authoritarian regime; Spanish flu outbreak; assassinated.
67 |  | João do Canto e Castro da Silva Antunes Júnior
(1862–1934) | 14 December
1918  | 23 December
1918  | National Republican | João do Canto e Castro

(1918–1919)

68 |  | João Tamagnini de Sousa Barbosa
(1883–1948) | 23 December
1918  | 27 January
1919  | National Republican | 17th, 18th

Monarchy of the North.
69 |  | José Maria Mascarenhas Relvas
(1858–1929) | 27 January
1919  | 30 March
1919  | Independent  | 19th

70 |  | Domingos Leite Pereira
(1882–1956) | 30 March
1919  | 30 June
1919  | Independent  | 20th

71 |  | Alfredo Ernesto de Sá Cardoso
(1864–1950) | 30 June
1919  | 15 January
1920  | Democratic | 21st
1919
—  |  | Francisco José Fernandes Costa (did not take office)
(1857–1925) | 15 January
1920  | Republican Liberal | 22nd | António José de Almeida

(1919–1923)

Resigned before being sworn in; Known as the "Five minutes government".
—  |  | 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 |  | Domingos Leite Pereira (2nd time)
(1882–1956) | 21 January
1920  | 8 March
1920  | Independent  | 23rd

73 |  | 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
(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 |  | António Maria da Silva
(1872–1950) |  26 June
1920  | 19 July
1920  | Democratic
(with the Socialists and Populars)  | 25th

76 |  | António Joaquim Granjo
(1881–1921) | 19 July
1920  | 20 November
1920  | Republican Liberal
(with the Reconstitution Party)  | 26th

77 |  | 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 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 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
(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 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 |  | 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 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
(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 |  | António Maria da Silva (2nd time)
(1872–1950) | 7 February
1922  | 15 November
1923  | Democratic | 35th, 36th, 37th
1922
86 |  | António Ginestal Machado
(1874–1940) | 15 November
1923  | 18 December
1923  | Nationalist Republican | 38th | Manuel Teixeira Gomes

(1923–1925)

10 December 1923 failed coup; Resigned due to the fallout.
87 |  | 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
(1865–1938) | 7 July
1924  | 22 November
1924  | Democratic | 40th

89 |  | 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
(1876–1957) | 15 February
1925  | 1 July
1925  | Democratic | 42nd

91 |  | António Maria da Silva (3rd time)
(1872–1950) | 1 July
1925  | 1 August
1925  | Democratic | 43rd

Held office for just 30 days.
92 |  | 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 |  | António Maria da Silva (4th time)
(1872–1950) | 18 December
1925  | 30 May
1926  | Democratic | 45th | Bernardino Machado

(1925–1926)
1925
28 May 1926 coup d'état; Fall of the First Republic.

### Dictatorship (1926–1974)

[edit]

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

Electoral mandates  | Political party  | Government  | President
(Mandate)

|
|
|
|
|
|

Ditadura Nacional – Military Dictatorship (1926–1932)
94 |  | José Mendes Cabeçadas Júnior
(1883–1965) | 30 May
1926  | 19 June
1926  | None  | 1st Dict. | José Mendes Cabeçadas

(1926)

28 May 1926 coup d'état; Forced to resign.
95 |  | Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa
(1863–1929) | 19 June
1926  | 9 July
1926  | None  | 2nd Dict. | Manuel Gomes da Costa
(1926)

9 July 1926 Counter-revolution; Forced to resign and sent to exile in the Azores.
96 |  | António Óscar Fragoso Carmona
(1869–1951) | 9 July
1926  | 18 April
1928  | None  | 3rd Dict. | António Óscar Carmona

(1926–1951)

February 1927 Revolt; Nomination of António de Oliveira Salazar as Finance Minister; Strong austerity and fiscal consolidation.
97 |  | 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
(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 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
(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

(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

(1958–1974)
101 |  | 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;

### Second Republic (1974–present)

[edit]

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

(1974)

Military junta designated to maintain government following the Carnation Revolution.
102 |

| 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 dos Santos Gonçalves
(1921–2005) | 18 July
1974  | 19 September
1975  | Independent  | Prov. II
Prov. III
Prov. IV | Francisco da Costa Gomes
(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[1] | 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[update])
105 |  | Mário Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares
(1924–2017) | 23 July
1976  | 28 August
1978  | Socialist | I[Min.] | António Ramalho Eanes

(1976–1986)
II[a]
1976
First democratically appointed prime minister; 1976-1978 economic crisis; International Monetary Fund loan; Submission of the candidacy of Portugal to the EEC; 1977 motion of confidence defeat; 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 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 Manuel Lumbrales de Sá Carneiro
(1934–1980) | 3 January
1980  | 4 December
1980 (died) | Social Democratic | VI[b]
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.
—  |  | Diogo Pinto de Freitas do Amaral
(1941–2019)
interim  | 4 December
1980  | 9 January
1981  | Democratic and Social Centre | (VI)[b]

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister under Francisco Sá Carneiro; interim Prime Minister upon Sá Carneiro's death.
110 |  | Francisco José Pereira Pinto Balsemão
(1937–) | 9 January
1981  | 9 June
1983  | Social Democratic | VII[b]
VIII[b]

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 Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares
(1924–2017)
(2nd time)  | 9 June
1983  | 6 November
1985  | Socialist | IX[c]
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 |  | Aníbal António Cavaco Silva
(1939–) | 6 November
1985  | 28 October
1995  | Social Democratic | X[Min.]
XI | Mário Soares

(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; 1987 motion of no confidence; 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 |  | António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
(1949–) | 28 October
1995  | 6 April
2002  | Socialist | XIII[Min.]
XIV[Min.] | Jorge Sampaio

(1996–2006)
1995, 1999
Economic expansion; Expo 98; 1998 Abortion and Regionalisation referendums; 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; Decriminalization of drug use; Portugal joins the European single currency; Resigned after a disastrous result in the 2001 local elections.
114 |  |  José Manuel Durão Barroso
(1956–) | 6 April
2002  | 17 July
2004  | Social Democratic | XV[d]
2002
Prestige disaster; 2003 Portuguese wildfires; Casa Pia child sexual abuse scandal; Iraq War; UEFA Euro 2004; 2004 constitutional revision; Resigned to become President of the European Commission.
115 |  | Pedro Miguel de Santana Lopes
(1956–) | 17 July
2004  | 12 March
2005  | Social Democratic | XVI[e]

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 de Carvalho Pinto de Sousa
(1957–) | 12 March
2005  | 21 June
2011  | Socialist | XVII
XVIII[Min.] | Aníbal Cavaco Silva

(2006–2016)
2005, 2009
First time the Socialist Party won an absolute majority; 2005 constitutional revision; 2005 Portuguese wildfires; 2007 Abortion referendum; 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 Manuel Mamede Passos Coelho
(1964–) | 21 June
2011  | 26 November
2015  | Social Democratic | XIX[f]
XX[Min.][g]
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 Luís Santos da Costa
(1961–) | 26 November
2015  | 2 April
2024  | Socialist | XXI[Min.]
XXII[Min.] | Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa

(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 |

| Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves
(1973–) | 2 April
2024  | Incumbent | Social Democratic | XXIV[Min.][h]
2024
Minority government led by the Democratic Alliance coalition; 2024 Portugal wildfires; 2024 Greater Lisbon riots; Spinumviva case; 2025 motion of confidence defeat.

## Timeline

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

* Portugal portal

* List of prime ministers of Portugal by time in office
* List of presidents of Portugal
* Politics of Portugal

## Notes

[edit]

Min. Minority government

1. ^ Socialist Party (PS) and Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) coalition government.
2. ^ a b c d Democratic Alliance (AD) government, composed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) and the People's Monarchist Party (PPM).
3. ^ Socialist Party (PS) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) coalition government.
4. ^ Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) coalition government.
5. ^ Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) coalition government.
6. ^ Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP) coalition government.
7. ^ Portugal Ahead (PàF) government, composed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP).
8. ^ Democratic Alliance (AD) government, composed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS – People's Party (CDS–PP).

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prime ministers of Portugal.

* WORLD STATESMEN.org (Portugal)
* Prime Ministers since 1910
* Portuguese General Elections since 1820

* v
* t
* e

European Council

* List of meetings
* Parties represented
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004 (January–April)
* 2004 (May–December)
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013 (January–June)
* 2013 (July–December)
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

* António Costa, President (non-voting)

* Stocker (AT)
* De Wever (BE)
* Zhelyazkov (BG)
* Plenković (HR)
* Christodoulides (CY)
* Fiala (CZ)
* Frederiksen (DK)
* Michal (EE)
* Orpo (FI)
* Macron (FR)
* Scholz (DE)
* Mitsotakis (GR)
* Orbán (HU)
* Martin (IE)
* Meloni (IT)
* Siliņa (LV)
* Nausėda (LT)
* Frieden (LU)
* Abela (MT)
* Schoof (NL)
* Tusk (PL)
* Montenegro (PT)
* Bolojan (RO)
* Fico (SK)
* Golob (SI)
* Sánchez (ES)
* Kristersson (SE)

* von der Leyen, President of the Commission (non-voting)

* Kallas (High Representative) (present non-member, non-voting)
* Metsola (President of the Parliament) (partially attending, non-member, non-voting)

European Union Portal

* v
* t
* e

Heads of state and government of Europe

Heads
of state|

| UN members
and observers|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia1
* Austria
* Azerbaijan1
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus1
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia1
* Germany
* Greece
* Holy See (Vatican City)
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kazakhstan1
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russian Federation1
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Sovereign Military Order of Malta
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey1
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

|

Partially recognised2|

* Abkhazia1
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1

Unrecognised states3|

* Transnistria

Heads of
government|

| UN members
and observers|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia1
* Austria
* Azerbaijan1
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus1
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia1
* Germany
* Greece
* Holy See (Vatican City)
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Kazakhstan1
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russian Federation1
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Sovereign Military Order of Malta
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey1
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

|

Partially recognised2|

* Abkhazia1
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus1
* South Ossetia1

Unrecognised states3|

* Transnistria

* 1\. Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on geographical definition.
* 2\. Recognised by at least one United Nations member.
* 3\. Not recognised by any United Nations members.

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[No.]: Number