Portugal - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Portugal, it was name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale" meaning "Port of Cale"; Cale was an ancient Celtic town and port in present-day northern Portugal. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
National symbols

Armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe modeling objects in the sky and representing the Republic); national colors: red, green.

The flag
The National flag of Portugal has two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation.
The National Anthem
Title "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
Lyric/music Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
More about the government of Portugal
Date of Independence 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died
Legal system civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts
International law organization participation accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitution
History Several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976
Amendments Proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members; amended several times, last in 2005
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only at least one parent must be a citizen of Portugal
Dual citizenship recognized yes
Residency requirement for naturalization 10 years; 6 years if from a Portuguese-speaking country
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)
Head of government Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)
Cabinet Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections/appointments president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 January 2021 (next to be held in January 2026); following legislative elections the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
Election results
2021: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1%

2016: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8%

 

Legislative branch
Description Unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; 226 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote and 4 members - 2 each in 2 constituencies representing Portuguese living abroad - directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections Last held on 10 March 2024 (next to be held on 30 September 2028); note - early elections were called after Prime Minister Antonio Luis Santos da COSTA resigned on 7 November 2023
Election results Percent of vote by party - AD (PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) 28.8%, PS, 28%, Enough 18.1%, IL 4.9%, BE 4.4%, L 3.2%, CDU 3.2%, other 9.4%; seats by party - AD (PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) 80, PS 78, Enough 50, IL 8, BE 5, L 4, CDU 4, other 1; composition - men 155, women 75, percentage women 32.6%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)
Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms
Subordinate courts Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022)
Chancery 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone [1] (202) 350-5400
FAX [1] (202) 462-3726
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/
Consulate(s) general Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco
Consulate(s) New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI)
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Randi Charno LEVINE (since 22 April 2022)
Embassy Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa
Mailing address 5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC  20521-5320
Telephone [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX [351] (21) 726-9109
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://pt.usembassy.gov/
Consulate(s) Ponta Delgada (Azores)
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)
Key Political parties and their leaders in Portugal
  • International organization participation
  • ADB (nonregional member)
  • AfDB (nonregional member)
  • Australia Group
  • BIS
  • CD
  • CE
  • CERN
  • CPLP
  • EAPC
  • EBRD
  • ECB
  • EIB
  • EMU
  • ESA
  • EU
  • FAO
  • FATF
  • IADB
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC (national committees)
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IEA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • IHO
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • IMSO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • LAIA (observer)
  • MIGA
  • NATO
  • NEA
  • NSG
  • OAS (observer)
  • OECD
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • Pacific Alliance (observer)
  • Paris Club (associate)
  • PCA
  • Schengen Convention
  • SELEC (observer)
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • Union Latina
  • UNOOSA
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • Wassenaar Arrangement
  • WCO
  • WFTU (NGOs)
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • ZC
  • All Important Facts about Portugal

    Want to know more about Portugal? Check all different factbooks for Portugal below.

    Portugal is found in Southern Europe