Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal
Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal (Portuguese: Vice-Primeiro-Ministro de Portugal) is the title of the Deputy Head of Government of the Portuguese Republic.
The position is not currently held by any member of the government. As deputy head of the executive branch, the Deputy Prime Minister replaces the Prime Minister in the event of the latter's incapacity or death. The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic provides for the existence of one or more deputy prime ministers. The deputy prime minister can accumulate the function of head of government with the portfolios of one or more ministries.
Appointment
The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the President of the Republic on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Holder
The post has been vacant since 26 November 2015. The last holder was Paulo Portas, during the 20th Constitutional Government.
Official residence
When Paulo Portas was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, he chose the Palácio das Laranjeiras, located in Sete Rios, Lisbon, as the place to set up his office. The palace, also known as Palácio do Conde de Farrobo, was built in the 18th century and served as the official residence of the prime minister. In 1903, the Count of Burnay bought the estate and the palace, eventually giving part of the estate to the Lisbon Zoo (which until then had been located in Palhavã Park, where the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation now stands). The Ministry of the Colonies bought the palace in 1940 to set up the Marine Museum there, but this never happened. The site has since housed various ministries, including the Colonial Ministry during the Estado Novo.
List of office holders
- Abílio Augusto Valdez de Passos e Sousa (11 August 1927 - 26 August 1927), Deputy Prime Minister during the 1st Dictatorial Government of Óscar Carmona (1926-1928)
- Joaquim Teixeira Ribeiro and António Carlos de Magalhães Arnao Metello (8 August 1975 - 19 September 1975), both Deputy Prime Ministers during the 5th Provisional Government of Vasco Gonçalves (1975)
- Manuel Jacinto Nunes (22 November 1978 - 1 August 1979), Deputy Prime Minister during the 4th Constitutional Government of Carlos Mota Pinto (1978-1979), with the full title Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and European Integration
- Diogo Freitas do Amaral (3 January 1980 - 9 January 1981), Deputy Prime Minister during the 6th Constitutional Government of Francisco Sá Carneiro (3 January 1980 - 4 December 1980), later Deputy Prime Minister and acting Prime Minister (4 December 1980 - 9 January 1981), following the death of Francisco Sá Carneiro in office
- Diogo Freitas do Amaral (4 September 1981 - 25 February 1983), Deputy Prime Minister during the 8th Constitutional Government of Francisco Pinto Balsemão (1981-1983); suspended his mandate, being replaced by Ricardo Bayão Horta
- Ricardo Bayão Horta (25 February 1983 - 9 June 1983), Deputy Prime Minister during the 8th Constitutional Government of Francisco Pinto Balsemão (1981-1983); substitute of Diogo Freitas do Amaral
- Carlos Mota Pinto (9 June 1983 - 15 February 1985), Deputy Prime Minister during the 9th Constitutional Government of Mário Soares; died in office
- Rui Machete (15 February 1985 - 6 November 1985), Deputy Prime Minister during the 9th Constitutional Government of Mário Soares; replaced Mota Pinto following his death
- Eurico de Melo (17 August 1987 - 5 January 1990), Deputy Prime Minister during the 11th Constitutional Government of Cavaco Silva (1987-1991)
- Paulo Portas (24 July 2013 - 26 November 2015), Deputy Prime Minister during the XIX and XX Constitutional Governments of Portugal of Pedro Passos Coelho (2011-2015)