List of presidents of Portugal

For Portuguese heads of state prior to 1910, see list of Portuguese monarchs.

The complete list of presidents of the Portuguese Republic consists of the 21 heads of state in the history of Portugal since the 5 October 1910 revolution that installed a republican regime.

This list includes not only those persons who were sworn into office as President of Portugal but also those who de facto served as head of state since 1910. This is the case of Teófilo Braga who served as President of the Provisional Government after the republican coup d'état. Also Sidónio Pais, Mendes Cabeçadas, Gomes da Costa, as well as Canto e Castro and Óscar Carmona in their early months, were not sworn into office as presidents of the Republic, usually being prime ministers, but de facto accumulated this function, thus combining in practice head of state and head of government in one person.

See the notes for more information.

Election terms

The numbering reflects the uninterrupted terms in office served by a single man. For example, Jorge Sampaio served two consecutive terms and is counted as the 19th president (not the 19th and 20th). Teófilo Braga served as the first and sole president of the Provisional Government, and therefore is not considered to be the first president, although he would serve again as head of state and be the second president after the resignation of Manuel de Arriaga.

However, Bernardino Machado served two non-consecutive terms, and he is counted as both the third and the eighth presidents. Because of this, the list below contains 20 presidencies, but only 19 presidents.

Under the Constitution of Portugal adopted in 1976, in the wake of the 1974 Carnation Revolution, the president is elected to a five-year term with the possibility of running for a second consecutive term; there is no limit to the number of terms a president may serve, but a president who serves two consecutive terms may not serve again in the next five years after the second term finishes.

The official residence of the president of Portugal is the Belém Palace.

The current president of the Portuguese Republic is António José Seguro, the winner of the 2026 presidential election.

Presidents

The colors indicate the political affiliation of each president.

  Republican
  Democratic
  National Republican
  Evolutionist Party/Republican Liberal
  National Union/Popular National Action
  Democratic Renewal
  Socialist
  Social Democratic
  Independent
  Interim holder

First Republic (1910–1926)

No. Portrait President
(Lifespan) 		Term of office Election Party Ref.
Start End Duration
President of the Provisional Government of the Republic (1910–1911)
- Teófilo Braga[a]
(1843–1924) 		5 October
1910 		24 August
1911 		333 days — Republican [1]
Presidents of the Republic (1911–1926)
1 Manuel de Arriaga
(1840–1917) 		24 August
1911 		26 May
1915[R] 		3 years, 278 days 1911 Republican
later Democratic[2] 		[3][2]
2 Teófilo Braga
(1843–1924) 		29 May
1915 		5 October
1915 		129 days May
1915 		Democratic[4] [3][4]
3 Bernardino Machado
(1851–1944) 		5 October
1915 		5 December
1917[C] 		2 years, 60 days August
1915 		Democratic[5] [3][5]
- Ministry
(Head of State ex officio)
President: Sidónio Pais 		12 December
1917 		28 April
1918 		137 days — Independent [3][6]
4 Sidónio Pais[b]
(1872–1918) 		28 April
1918 		14 December
1918[A] 		230 days April
1918 		National Republican[6] [3][6]
- Ministry
(Head of State ex officio)
President: João do Canto e Castro 		14 December
1918 		16 December
1918 		2 days — National Republican [7]
5 João do Canto e Castro[c]
(1862–1934) 		16 December
1918 		5 October
1919 		293 days December
1918 		National Republican[8] [3][8]
6 António José de Almeida
(1866–1929) 		5 October
1919 		5 October
1923 		4 years 1919 Evolutionist
later Republican Liberal[9] 		[3][9]
7 Manuel Teixeira Gomes
(1860–1941) 		5 October
1923 		11 December
1925[R] 		2 year, 67 days 1923 Democratic[10] [3][10]
8 Bernardino Machado
(1851–1944)
2nd time 		11 December
1925 		31 May
1926[C] 		171 days 1925 Democratic[5] [3][5]

Second Republic (1926–1974)

No. Portrait President
(Lifespan) 		Term of office Election Party Ref.
Start End Duration
Ditadura Nacional (National Dictatorship) (1926–1932)
9 José Mendes Cabeçadas[d]
(1883–1965) 		31 May
1926 		17 June
1926[C] 		17 days — Independent[11] [3][11]
- Ministry
(Head of State ex officio)
President: Manuel Gomes da Costa 		17 June
1926 		29 June
1926 		12 days — Independent [12]
10 Manuel Gomes da Costa[d]
(1863–1929) 		29 June
1926 		9 July
1926[C] 		10 days — Independent[13] [3][13]
- Ministry
(Head of State ex officio)
President: Óscar Carmona 		9 July
1926 		16 November
1926 		130 days — Independent [3][14]
11 Óscar Carmona[d][e]
(1869–1951) 		16 November
1926 		15 April
1928 		1 year, 149 days — Independent
from 1932
National Union 		[3][14]
Estado Novo (New State) (1932–1974)
Óscar Carmona
(1869–1951) 		15 April
1928 		18 April
1951[D] 		22 years, 362 days 1928
1935
1942
1949
- António de Oliveira Salazar[f]
(1889–1970)
(interim) 		18 April
1951 		21 July
1951 		93 days — National Union [15]
12 Francisco Craveiro Lopes
(1894–1964) 		21 July
1951 		9 August
1958 		7 years, 19 days 1951 National Union [3][16]
13 Américo Tomás
(1894–1987) 		9 August
1958 		25 April
1974[C] 		15 years, 259 days 1958
1965
1972 		National Union
from 1970
People's National Action 		[3][17]

Third Republic (1974–present)

No. Portrait President
(Lifespan) 		Term of office Election Party Ref.
Start End Duration
Presidents appointed in the aftermath of the Carnation Revolution (1974–1976)
- National Salvation Junta[g]
President: António de Spínola 		25 April
1974 		15 May
1974 		20 days — Independent [18]
14
António de Spínola
(1910–1996) 		15 May
1974 		30 September
1974[R] 		138 days — Independent [3][18]
15
Francisco da Costa Gomes
(1914–2001) 		30 September
1974 		14 July
1976 		1 year, 288 days — Independent [3][19]
Presidents elected under the Constitution of the Republic (1976–present)
16
António Ramalho Eanes
(born 1935) 		14 July
1976 		9 March
1986 		9 years, 238 days 1976
1980 		Independent
from 1985
Democratic Renewal 		[3][20]
17
Mário Soares
(1924–2017) 		9 March
1986 		9 March
1996 		10 years 1986
1991 		Socialist [3][21]
18
Jorge Sampaio
(1939–2021) 		9 March
1996 		9 March
2006 		10 years 1996
2001 		Socialist [3][22]
19
Aníbal Cavaco Silva
(born 1939) 		9 March
2006 		9 March
2016 		10 years 2006
2011 		Social Democratic[h] [3][24]
20
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
(born 1948) 		9 March
2016 		9 March
2026 		10 years 2016
2021 		Social Democratic[i] [26]
21
António José Seguro
(born 1962) 		9 March
2026 		Incumbent 17 days 2026 Socialist [27]
  • Left office early:
[A] Assassinated.
[D] Died in office of natural causes.
[R] Resigned.
[C] Forced to resign due to a coup d'état.

Timeline

Timeline of Presidents of Portugal (1910–present)

Birthplaces

Birthplaces of the presidents of the Portuguese Republic. Not shown are Manuel de Arriaga (born in Horta, Azores, Portugal), Teófilo Braga (born in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal), and Bernardino Machado (born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Presidents by time in office

Rank President Time in office Terms Party
1 Óscar Carmona 24 years, 286 days 5   Nonpartisan →   National Union
2 Américo Tomás 15 years, 259 days 3   National Union
3 Mário Soares 10 years, 0 days 2   Socialist
Jorge Sampaio 10 years, 0 days 2   Socialist
Aníbal Cavaco Silva 10 years, 0 days 2   Social Democratic
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa 10 years, 0 days 2   Social Democratic
4 António Ramalho Eanes 9 years, 238 days 2   Nonpartisan →   Democratic Renewal
5 Francisco Craveiro Lopes 7 years, 19 days 1   National Union
6 António José de Almeida 4 years, 0 days 1   Evolutionist →   Republican Liberal
7 Manuel de Arriaga 3 years, 278 days 1   Republican →   Democratic
8 Bernardino Machado 2 years, 239 days 2   Democratic
9 Manuel Teixeira Gomes 2 year, 67 days 1   Democratic
10 Francisco da Costa Gomes 1 year, 288 days 1   Nonpartisan
11 Teófilo Braga 1 year, 87 days 1   Republican →   Democratic
12 Sidónio Pais 1 year, 2 days 1   National Republican
13 João do Canto e Castro 295 days 1   National Republican
14 António de Spínola 158 days 1   Nonpartisan
15 António de Oliveira Salazar 93 days 1   National Union
16 Manuel Gomes da Costa 22 days 1   Nonpartisan
17 José Mendes Cabeçadas 17 days 1   Nonpartisan
18 António José Seguro 16 days
(Incumbent)		 1   Socialist

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Teófilo Braga served as President of the Provisional Government, the de facto head of government and head of state, from the republican revolution of 1910 to the election of Manuel de Arriaga, the 1st President of Portugal.
  2. ^ After leading a coup d'état, Sidónio Pais became President of the Revolutionary Junta and later Prime Minister (President of the Ministry). He then abolished the post of Prime Minister, assuming himself as the head of government as President of the Republic. He was assassinated in 1918.
  3. ^ Canto e Castro was head of the Council of Ministers that served as the head of state of Portugal after the assassination of Sidónio Pais in 1918, from December 14 to December 16. He then became interim president until the election of António José de Almeida.
  4. ^ a b c Mendes Cabeçadas, Gomes da Costa and Óscar Carmona were the heads of the revolutionary provisional governments during the year of 1926. Although not called Presidents, they were de facto heads of state.
  5. ^ Óscar Carmona served initially as head of the revolutionary government after a counter-coup deposed Gomes da Costa. He was de facto head of state between July 9 and November 16, 1926. However he officially took office as President of the Republic on November 16, 1926. Six years later, in 1932, the Estado Novo was proclaimed and the National Union, the only legal party, was formed by António de Oliveira Salazar. Carmona joined the party and was the party's candidate for every presidential election (that were considered fraudulent) until 1951, when he died.
  6. ^ António de Oliveira Salazar, the dictatorial President of the Council of Ministers (a position roughly equivalent to the modern post of Prime Minister) occupied the post of president interim between the death of Óscar Carmona and the election of Francisco Craveiro Lopes.
  7. ^ Between the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974 and May 15 of the same year, António de Spínola was the head of the National Salvation Junta, being the de facto head of state and government. After May 15 Adelino da Palma Carlos became the Prime Minister, and Spínola continued as de jure head of state as President of the Republic.
  8. ^ Party member that suspended his membership during his term in office.[23]
  9. ^ Party member that suspended his membership during his term in office.[25]

References

  1. ^ "MRP - Teófilo Braga". www.museu.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  2. ^ a b "Manuel de Arriaga - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Braga, Paulo Drumond 1965- (2010). "Os Presidentes da República Portuguesa : sociologia de uma função".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Teófilo Braga". PRESIDENCY OF THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
  5. ^ a b c d "Bernardino Machado - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  6. ^ a b c "Sidónio Pais - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  7. ^ "Lei Nº 833, de 16 de Dezembro de 1918" (PDF). www.parlamento.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  8. ^ a b "Canto e Castro - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  9. ^ a b "António José de Almeida - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  10. ^ a b "Teixeira Gomes - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  11. ^ a b "Mendes Cabeçadas - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  12. ^ "MRP - Manuel Gomes da Costa". www.museu.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  13. ^ a b "Gomes da Costa - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  14. ^ a b "Óscar Carmona - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  15. ^ Alves, Maria Teixeira (2016-12-28). "Site da Presidência exclui Salazar da lista de Presidentes da República". www.jornaleconomico.pt (in Portuguese). Jornal Económico. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  16. ^ "Craveiro Lopes - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  17. ^ "Américo Tomás - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  18. ^ a b "António de Spínola - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  19. ^ "Costa Gomes - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  20. ^ "Ramalho Eanes - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  21. ^ "Mário Soares - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  22. ^ "Jorge Sampaio - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  23. ^ "PSD ratifica hoje apoio a candidatura de Cavaco Silva a Belém". Público (in Portuguese). 2005-10-29. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  24. ^ "Aníbal Cavaco Silva - PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS: - PRESIDENCIA.PT". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-10-05.
  25. ^ "Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa suspendeu a militância no PSD". Observador (in Portuguese). 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  26. ^ "Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  27. ^ "Conheça o Presidente da República António José Seguro". www.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  • Jornal de Notícias (January–May 2006). Museu da Presidência da República/Jornal de Notícias (ed.). Presidents de Portugal - Fotobiografias (1st ed.). Porto.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • "Portal da História". Biografias dos Presidentes. Retrieved February 8, 2006.
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