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XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal

The XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal (Portuguese: XXI Governo Constitucional de Portugal) was the 21st government of the Third Portuguese Republic, under the current Constitution. It was in office from 26 November 2015 to 26 October 2019, and was formed by the members of the Socialist Party (PS). António Costa, leader of the PS, served as Prime Minister.

XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal
XXI Governo Constitucional de Portugal

Cabinet of Portugal
Prime Minister António Costa
Date formed26 November 2015 (2015-11-26)
Date dissolved26 October 2019 (2019-10-26) (3 years and 11 months)
People and organisations
President of the RepublicAníbal Cavaco Silva
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Prime MinisterAntónio Costa
No. of ministers17 [a]
Member partySocialist Party (PS)
Status in legislatureMinority government with confidence and supply from:
Left Bloc (BE),
Portuguese Communist Party (PCP),
Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV)
Opposition parties
History
Election(s)2015 Portuguese legislative election
(4 October 2015)
PredecessorXX Constitutional Government
SuccessorXXII Constitutional Government

Background edit

After the 2015 legislative election had resulted in a hung parliament, the leader of the Portugal Ahead alliance (PPD/PSD.CDS–PP), then Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho was given the task of forming a new government. However, as his minority government failed to secure support by any other party, notably the Socialist, the Government Programme was rejected by a vote of 123 to 107 deputies, leading to the government's disbandment within less than a month.[1]

In the meantime, Socialist Party secretary-general António Costa had succeeded in securing support for a Socialist minority government by the Left Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV), in a confidence and supply agreement. Subsequently, he was appointed as the new Prime Minister on 24 November 2015.[2] The cabinet members took their oath of office on 26 November 2015.

Composition edit

The government was composed of the Prime Minister and 17 ministries comprising ministers, secretaries and under-secretaries of state.[3]

Office Minister Party Start of term End of term
Prime Minister   António Costa PS 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Foreign Affairs   Augusto Santos Silva PS 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Premiership and Administrative Modernization   Maria Manuel Leitão Marques PS 26 November 2015 18 February 2019
  Mariana Vieira da Silva PS 18 February 2019 26 October 2019
Minister of Finance   Mário Centeno Independent 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of National Defence   José Alberto Azeredo Lopes Independent 26 November 2015 12 October 2018
  João Gomes Cravinho Independent 12 October 2018 26 October 2019
Minister of Internal Administration   Constança Urbano de Sousa Independent 26 November 2015 18 October 2017
  Eduardo Cabrita PS 21 October 2017 26 October 2019
Minister of Justice   Francisca Van Dunem Independent 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Economy[b]   Manuel Caldeira Cabral Independent 26 November 2015 15 October 2018
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

(Ministro-Adjunto do Primeiro-Ministro) [b]

  Eduardo Cabrita PS 26 November 2015 21 October 2017
  Pedro Siza Vieira PS 21 October 2017 15 October 2018
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and of Economy[c]   Pedro Siza Vieira PS 15 October 2018 26 October 2019
Minister of Culture   João Soares PS 26 November 2015 8 April 2016
  Luís Filipe Castro Mendes Independent 14 April 2016 15 October 2018
  Graça Fonseca PS 15 October 2018 26 October 2019
MInister of Science, Technology and Higher Education   Manuel Heitor Independent 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Education   Tiago Brandão Rodrigues Independent 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security   José Vieira da Silva PS 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Health   Adalberto Campos Fernandes Independent 26 November 2015 15 October 2018
  Marta Temido Independent 15 October 2018 26 October 2019
Minister of Planning and Infrastructure[d]   Pedro Marques PS 26 November 2015 18 February 2019
Minister of Planning[e]   Nelson de Souza PS 18 February 2019 26 October 2019
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing[e]   Pedro Nuno Santos PS 18 February 2019 26 October 2019
Minister of Environment[f]   João Pedro Matos Fernandes Independent 26 November 2015 15 October 2018
Minister of Environment and Energy Transition[c]   João Pedro Matos Fernandes Independent 15 October 2018 26 October 2019
Minister of Agriculture   Luís Capoulas Santos PS 26 November 2015 26 October 2019
Minister of Sea   Ana Paula Vitorino PS 26 November 2015 26 October 2019

Notes edit

  1. ^ Not including the Prime Minister.
  2. ^ a b Replaced by the position of Deputy Minister and of Economy on 15 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b Position created on 15 October 2018.
  4. ^ Replaced by the positions of Minister of Planning and Minister of Infrastructure and Housing on 18 February 2019.
  5. ^ a b Position created on 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ Replaced by the position of Minister of Environment and Energy Transition on 15 October 2018.

References edit

  1. ^ Angelique Chrisafis (10 November 2015). "Portuguese MPs force minority government to quit over austerity". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Presidente da República indicou Secretário-Geral do PS para Primeiro-Ministro" (in Portuguese). Presidência da República. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  3. ^ "XXI Government - Portuguese Republic". www.portugal.gov.pt. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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