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Portugal: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Head of Government:
Prime Minister António Luis Santos da Costa

Overview

Government Name:
Portuguese Republic
Constitution:
Adopted: 2005; Outlines basic topics such as fundamental rights and duties, organization of the economy, organization of political power, the government, autonomous regions, local government, public administration, and national defense.
Government Type:
Republic
Portuguese Republic Flag
Coat of Arms of Portuguese Republic

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

A3
Changes in generally good but somewhat volatile political and economic environment can affect corporate payment behavior. A basically secure business environment can nonetheless give rise to occasional difficulties for companies. Corporate default probability is quite acceptable on average. Source: Coface (2022)

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

President is commander in chief of the armed forces, appointing and dismissing the prime minister, dissolving assembly to call early elections, and voting legislation. Prime Minister coordinates the action of ministers and represents the Government of Portugal

President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system. Prime minster is appointed by the president.

President: 5 years, Prime Minister: 4 years
Judicial

Supreme Court serves as the court of last appeal, while Constitutional Court reviews the constitutionality of legislation.

Supreme Court justices are nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic. Constitutional Court has 10 justices elected by the Assembly of the Republic and 3 are elected by the other Constitutional Court judges.

6 years
Legislative

May dismiss the government through a vote of no confidence, change laws, and amend the constitution.

Assembly of the Republic members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system.

4 years

Regional Trade Blocs
European Union

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Ministry of Finance
Tax Name:
VAT

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/