Relations between the President and the prime minister in Portugal: 1985-1995

Abstract

The history of twenty years of Portuguese democracy shows that its unique semi-presidential system can lead to various levels of confrontation or cohabitation between the President of the Republic and the prime minister. This article examines the relations between the two during the mandates of president Mário Soares and prime minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva (1985-1995). The aim of this is to examine how the semi-presidential features of the system took differing forms under the same two leaders. Emphasis is given not only to the text of the Constitution, but also to the development of everyday political events. The first part of the analysis describes the semi-presidential features of the 1982 Constitution. The second section examines how the powers became political reality in the relationship between president Mário Soares and prime minister Cavaco Silva. The analysis is in three parts: (a) the minority PSD government in 1985 and the 1986 presidential elections; (b) «peaceful» cohabitation during the period from 1987 to 1990; (c) turbulent cohabitation from 1991 until the present. In the conclusion it is argued that presidential power in Portugal goes far beyond the parameters established in the Constitution. The capacity of a President to widen his powers depends on the following factors: internal political and economic circumstances, relationships with the prime minister, his personality and style of working, and his political vision and will.