XVII Constitutional Government

The present Government is formed by the Socialist Party in the sequence of the 2005 parliamentary elections, and took office on March 12th, 2005. This is the 17th government under the present Constitution, approved on 1976, two years after the coup d'etat that, on April 25th removed the dictatorship of Oliveira Salazar and Marcello Caetano that ruled Portugal from 1933 onwards.

Previous Governments

• 16th - headed by Pedro Santana Lopes, was formed by a coalition of Social-Democratic Party and Popular Party (previously CDS), following the 2002 election's, and was in office from July 17th, 2004 until March 12th, 2005, following dissolution of the parliament by the President of the Republic.
• 15th - headed by José Manuel Durão Barroso, was formed by a coalition of Social-Democratic Party and Popular Party (previously CDS), following the 2002 election's, and was in office from April 6th, 2002 until July 17th, 2004, when the Prime Minister resign.
• 14th - headed by António Guterres, was formed by the Socialist Party, after the 1999 elections, and was in office from October 25th, 1999 until April 6th, 2002, when the Prime Minister resign.
• 13th - headed by António Guterres, was formed by the Socialist Party, after the 1995 elections, and was in office from October 28th, 1995 until October 1st, 1999.
• 12th - headed by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, was formed by the Social-Democratic Party, after the 1991 elections, and was in office from October 31st, 1991 until October 28th, 1995.
• 11th - headed by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, was formed by the Social-Democratic Party, after the 1987 elections, and was in office from August 17th, 1987 until October 31st, 1991.
• 10th - headed by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, was formed by the Social-Democratic Party, after the 1985 elections, and was in office from November 6th, 1985 until August 17th, 1987.
• 9th - headed by Mário Soares, was formed by a coalition of the Socialist and the Social-Democratic Parties, after the 1983 elections, and was in office from June 9th, 1983 until November 6th, 1985.
• 8th - headed by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, was formed by a coalition of the Social-Democratic Party, the centrist CDS and the Popular Monarchical Party, after the 1979 elections, and was in office from September 4th, 1981 until July 9th, 1983.
• 7th - headed by Francisco Pinto Balsemão, was formed by a coalition of the Social-Democratic Party, the centrist CDS and the Popular Monarchical Party, after the 1979 elections, and was in office from January 9th, 1981 until September 4th, 1981.
• 6th - headed by Francisco Sá Carneiro, was formed by a coalition of the Social-Democratic Party, the centrist CDS and the Popular Monarchical Party, after the 1979 elections, and was in office from January 3rd, 1980 until January 9th, 1981, following the Prime Minister's dead.
• 5th - headed by Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo, who was called to office by the President of the Republic without parliamentary basis - which was allowed by the Constitution at that time -, was in office from July 7th, 1979 until January 3rd, 1980.
• 4th - headed by Carlos Mota Pinto, who was called to office by the President of the Republic without parliamentary basis - which was allowed by the Constitution at that time -, was in office from November 22nd, 1978 until July 7th, 1979.
• 3rd - headed by Alfredo Nobre da Costa, who was called to office by the President of the Republic without parliamentary basis - which was allowed by the Constitution at that time -, was in office from August 29th, 1978 until November 22nd, 1978.
• 2nd - headed by Mário Soares, was formed by a coalition of the Socialist and the centrist CDS Parties, after the 1976 elections, and was in office from January 29th, 1978 until August 29th, 1978.
• 1st - headed by Mário Soares, was formed by the Socialist Party, after the 1976 elections, and was in office from July 23rd, 1976 until January 23rd, 1978.

Provisional Government

Between April 25th, 1974 and July 23rd, 1976 Portugal was ruled by a military committee - during one month - and by six provisional governments