Portuguese Prime Minister
| Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic Primeiro-ministro da República Portuguesa |
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| Style | His/Her Excellency |
| Appointer | President of Portugal |
| Term length | Four years maximum. No term limits |
| Inaugural holder | Pedro de Sousa Holstein, Marquess of Palmela |
| Formation | 24 September 1834 |
| Website | portugal.gov.pt |
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The Prime Minister of the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: Primeiro-ministro da República Portuguesa) is the head of the country's Government. He/she coordinates the actions of all ministers, represents the Government as a whole, reports his actions and is accountable to the Assembly of the Republic, and keeps the President of the Republic informed.
There is no limit to the number of mandates as Prime Minister. He/she is appointed by the President of the Republic, after the legislative elections and after an audience with every leader of a party represented at the Assembly. It is usual for the leader of the party which receives a plurality of votes in the elections to be named Prime Minister.
The official residence of the Prime Minister is a mansion next to São Bento Palace, which, in confusion, is also often called "São Bento Palace", although many Prime Ministers didn't live in the palace during their full mandate.
The origins of present office of Prime Minister of Portugal fall back to the beginning of the Portuguese Monarchy in the 12th century. Typically, a senior official of the King of Portugal prevailed over the others, ensuring the coordination of the administration of the Kingdom as a kind of prime minister. Throughout history, the prominent position fell successively on the Mayor of the Palace (Portuguese Mordomo-Mor), on the Chancellor (Chancellor-Mor), on the King's Private Secretary (Escrivão da Puridade) and on the Secretary of State (Secretário de Estado).
In 1736, three offices of secretary of state were created, with the Secretary of State of the Internal Affairs of the Kingdom (Secretário de Estado dos Negócios Interiores do Reino) occupying a prominent position over the others.
Since the 1820 Liberal Revolution of Porto, liberalism and parliamentarism were installed in the country. In the first liberal period, there were three to six secretaries of state with equal position in the hierarchy, but with the Secretary the Internal Affairs of the Kingdom (usually known by Minister of the Kingdom) continuing to occupy a prominent position. Occasionally there was a Minister Assistant to the Dispatch (Ministro Assistante ao Despacho), a coordinator of all secretaries of state, and with a post similar to that of a prime minister. After a brief absolutistic restoration, the second liberalism started. With the beginning of the Constitutional Monarchy, the office of President of the Council of Ministers (President do Conselho de Ministros) was created. The Presidents of the Council were clearly the heads of government of the Kingdom, holding the executive power that absolutistic monarchs had, but were restricted by the controlling power of a National Congress.
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