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Portugal
At stake: President
Background
In 1928, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar began his political career in Portugal as finance minister. Salazar was appointed to the position by Oscar Fragoso Carmona, who had taken office following a military coup in 1926. Seven years later, Salazar was appointed prime minister and drafted a new constitution under which Portugal's "Estado Novo" (New State) was born.
Despite the structure outlined in the constitution—a president elected to a seven-year term, and a prime minister appointed by the president—the government went virtually unaltered for years. Elections were held regularly, but the incumbents faced no opposition until 1945.
In 1958, Humberto Delgado launched a presidential bid focused on removing Salazar from office. Amidst allegations of the government's intention to manipulate results, no opposition candidate had ever completed a campaign. In the end, Delgado received 25 per cent of the national vote. Following the election, the constitution was altered to allow the legislative branch—under Salazar's control—to choose the president.
Salazar remained the de-facto head of government until he suffered a stroke in 1968. The "Estado Novo" gave way to the "Social State" when president Americo Tomas appointed Marcello Jose das Neves Caetano as prime minister. Salazar's death enabled Tomas to take full authoritative control as delineated in the 1933 constitution.
The Tomas-Caetano government lasted only five years. In 1974, General Antonio Ribeiro de Spinola led a coup and became president. He was succeeded by General Francisco Da Costa Gomes later that same year. This administration marked the end of Portugal's military rule, and ushered in a new age of democracy.
Portugal joined the European Economic Community—later the European Union (EU)— in 1986. The structure of government has remained essentially the same since the 1933 constitution.
In 2005, Portugal renewed the Assembly of the Republic. The Socialist Party (PS) was the winner, and formed the government under prime minister Jose Socrates.
Click here for 2005 Portugal Assembly Election Tracker
2006 Presidential Election
In November 2005, Portuguese president Jorse Sampaio set Jan. 22, 2006, as the date for the presidential election, with a run-off—in the event no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots—taking place on Feb. 12.
Portugal's head of state is the commander in chief of the armed forces, and appoints the prime minister in accordance with the result of the parliamentary election.
Abortion has been the pre-eminent political topic in Portugal for the past year. In Portugal, pregnancy termination is only allowed in cases or rape, or those involving serious health concerns to the mother and child.
In a 1998 referendum, abortion remained illegal by a margin of two per cent. Only 32 per cent of eligible voters participated in that public vote. The Socialist government attempted to hold a new plebiscite on the issue in 2005, but the idea was scrapped by the country's Constitutional Court.
Recent voting intention polls have suggested a two-man race involving veteran politicians Anibal Cavaco Silva of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Mario Soares of the Socialist Party (PS).
Cavaco Silva acted as Portugal's prime minister from 1985 to 1995. He lost in the 1996 presidential election to Sampaio. The PSD member has vowed to "conquer the discouragement, pessimism and disbelief" in Portugal, and has urged the government to focus on economic growth, declaring, "Europe is growing 3.3 per cent, and the Eastern countries that are now part of the European Union are doing better than us."
Soares served twice as prime minister in the 1970s and 1980s, and then was Portugal's president for two consecutive terms from 1986 to 1996. He was especially regarded for the concept of the "Open Presidency"—a series of tours where specific issues were discussed with the people. Sitting governments did not always support these conferences, and claimed Soares was overstepping his boundaries.
Other candidates include PS assembly member Manuel Alegre, Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) leader Jeronimo de Souza, and Leftist Bloc (BE) leader Francisco Lousa. Some of these contenders are expected to drop out of the race and endorse another nominee as election day draws near.
A Universidade Catolica/RTP/Publico poll released in early January put Cavaco Silva ahead with 60 per cent, followed by Allegre with 16 per cent, Soares with 13 per cent, de Souza with seven per cent, and Lousa with four per cent. A Marktest survey also suggested a first round victory for Cavaco Silva with 56.4 per cent.
On the final week of the campaign, Portuguese daily 24 Horas revealed that attorney general José Souto de Mora had ordered the wiretapping of more than 200 telephones as part of an investigation into child abuse at the Casa Pia orphanage. Several prominent public figures—including former ambassador Jorge Ritto and popular television host Carlos Cruz—have testified during the trials.
Voting took place on Jan. 22. Official results gave Cavaco Silva 50.59 per cent of the vote, followed by Alegre with 20.72 per cent, and Soares with 14.34 per cent. Cavaco Silva becomes the first rightist candidate to win the Portuguese presidency since the return of democracy in 1974.
On Mar. 9, Cavaco Silva was sworn in. In his inauguration speech, the new president declared, "At a time of serious difficulties, Portugal faces challenges that require a presidential mandate that favours consensus towards the greater national goals. (...) As responsible states we must do everything to make sure that what unites us isn't sacrificed at the altar of what may circumstantially divide us."
Political Players
President: Anibal Cavaco Silva - PSD
Chairman of the Council of Ministers: Jose Socrates - PS
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: The Assembleia da Republica (Assembly of the Republic) has 230 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation.
Results of Last Election:
President - Jan. 22, 2006
|
Vote% |
|
|
Anibal Cavaco Silva - |
50.59% |
|
Manuel Alegre - |
20.72% |
|
Mario Soares - |
14.34% |
|
Jeronimo de Souza - |
8.59% |
|
Francisco Lousa - |
5.31% |
|
Antonio Garcia Pereira - |
0.44% |
Assembly of the Republic - Feb. 20, 2005
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
|
Socialist Party (PS) |
45.30% |
121 |
|
Social Democratic Party (PSD) |
28.70% |
75 |
|
Unitarian Democratic Coalition (CDU) |
7.57% |
14 |
|
Social Democratic Centre / |
7.27% |
12 |
|
Leftist Bloc (BE) |
6.38% |
8 |