Portugal has a President but what powers does he habe and how does he and the Prime Minister work together?
Powers of the President of the Republic
The President of the Republic is one of the four organs of power in Portugal (together with the Assembly of the Republic, the Government and the Courts).
Banda das Três Ordens | Sash of the Three Orders
Frederico Costa (maker) | Portugal, XXI century | Gilded silver, enamel and silk | Decoration of exclusive use of the President of the Republic
The Sash is the symbol of the Portuguese presidential magistracy, in their capacity as the fount of the Portuguese honours system; therefore, it cannot be conferred on nationals or foreigners, nor can it be used outside the exercise of office of the President.
At the summit of the political system, the Head of State represents the Portuguese Republic and maintains national independence, national unity and the regular functioning of the democratic establishment. Ultimately, it is the President of the Republic’s duty to defend and safeguard the Constitution. The President also assumes the role of Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.
The President of the Republic has the power to dissolve the Assembly of the Republic, dismiss the Government and nominate the prime minister and other members of the Government. However, the architecture of the Portuguese Constitution is structured in such a way as to maintain the balance of powers and a strict set of criteria governs the exercising of these privileges.
The President of the Republic is also responsible for promulgating or vetoing legal documents that are presented by the Assembly of the Republic and the Government. When there are doubts about the constitutionality of laws, the President can send the documents to be examined by the Constitutional Court.
In the event of political disagreement, the President of the Republic can apply a political veto to a legal document based on due reasoning. The Government is obliged to accept the presidential veto, dropping or changing the legal document, In the case of laws that have been approved by the Assembly of the Republic, the Assembly can override the political veto by upholding the law by the majority set down in the Constitution.
It is also within the scope of Presidential duties to decide to call referenda proposed by the Assembly of the Republic or by the Government.
In the field of international relations, it is the President of the Republic’s responsibility to declare war or peace, to nominate the ambassadors proposed by the Government, to accredit foreign diplomacy, and to ratify international treaties after they have been approved by the responsible bodies.
Beyond these and other formal powers, the President of the Republic holds the power of moderation and the power of speech, possibly the most important powers in the context of the normal functioning of the establishment.
Each President of the Republic is responsible for interpreting the framework of the constitution and acting in accordance with his understanding of his duties.
Portuguese Honorific Orders
Portuguese Honorific Orders convey the values of merit, citizenship, and the ethics of the res publica exercised by individuals or institutions. As the Grand Master of the Portuguese Honorific Orders, it is the duty of the head of state to grant all honours and oversee the organisation, direction and rules’ related to the orders with the assistance of the chancellors and councils of the orders.
In 1551, by papal permission, King João Ill became the first Grand Master of the Orders of Christ, Aviz and Saint James. Strengthening the title of Grand Master through the person of the monarch, Queen Maria I established its insignia in 1789, bringing together the symbols of the three orders. This was the genesis of the current Sash of the Three Orders.
Following the establishment of the Republic, all honorific orders were abolished except for the Order of the Tower and Sword.
Antiga e Muito Nobre Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito | Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit
Awarded for exceptional and outstanding merits in the highest offices in Parliament, Government, courts of justice or in the presidency of the Republic or in the command of troops in campaign; for military or civic deeds of heroism and to reward outstanding acts of abnegation and sacrifice for Portugal or mankind
In 1917, against the background of Portuguese participation in the First World War, the Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz was restored while the following year saw the return of the Orders of Christ and Saint James of the Sword.
On the same occasion the President of the Republic, who at the time was Sidónio Pais, resumed the use of the Sash of the Three Orders but now allowed that same honour to be granted to foreign heads of state. The exclusive nature of this insignia was not restored until 1963.
The President of the Republic is currently Grand Master of all nine Portuguese Honorific Orders, which are classified in three groups:
- Ancient Military Orders (Tower and Sword, Valour, Loyalty and Merit; Christ; Aviz; Saint James of the Sword);
- National Orders (Henry the Navigator; Liberty); and
- Orders of Civil Merit (Merit; Public Education; Merit in the Entrepreneurship in the Agricultural Class, the Commercial Class and the Industrial Class), each of them having a specific purpose related to the commitment, dedication and contributions made in the area concerned.
Ancient Military Orders
Order of Christ; Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz; Order of Saint James of the Sword
The Military Order of Christ, together with the Military Orders of Aviz and of St. James of the Sword, formed the group of the “Ancient Military Orders“, governed by a chancellor and a council of eight members, and appointed by the President of the Republic to assist him as Grand Master in all the order’s administrative matters. The Order can be conferred for outstanding services to the Republic on military officers, and, despite its name, on civilians (including foreigners as well as Portuguese citizens) and on members of: Parliament or other branches of government, the diplomatic corps, the Courts of Justice, the Civil Service, and other public authorities.
National Orders
Order of Prince Henry the Navigator
The Order of Prince Henry (Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique) is a Portuguese order of knighthood created on 2 June 1960, to commemorate the quincentenary of the death of the Portuguese infante Prince Henry the Navigator, one of the main initiators of the Age of Discovery. Minor reforms of the constitution of the Order occurred in 1962 and 1980. It is a five-tier order, whose titles are awarded for relevant services to Portugal and for services in the expansion of the Portuguese culture, its history and its values (with a particular focus on its maritime history). The number of members in each grade is restricted by its constitution, and titles are conferred by special decree by the Grand Master of the Order, i.e., the President of Portugal.
Order of Liberty
The Order of Liberty, or the Order of Freedom (Ordem da Liberdade), is a Portuguese honorific civil order that distinguishes relevant services to the cause of democracy and freedom, in the defense of the values of civilization and human dignity. The order was created in 1976, after the Carnation Revolution of 1974. The Grand Collar can also be given by the President of Portugal to former Heads of State and others whose deeds are of an extraordinary nature and particular relevance to Portugal, making them worthy of such a distinction. This can include political acts, physical acts of defense for Portugal, or the good representation of Portugal in other countries.
Orders of Civil Merits
Order of Merit; Order of Public Instruction
The Order of Merit has its origin in April 1927, when the Order of Instruction and Benefaction (Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência) was created. The goal of this now extinct order was to distinguish the services performed by people or corporations in order to further the instruction in the country. In 1929, the Order of Instruction and Benefaction was split in two different orders, the Order of Benefaction and the Order of Public Instruction, with the former now solely awarding acts related to social causes, public assistance and goodwill. In 1976, the order was renamed to its current title.
Order of Entrepreneurial Merit (Agriculture, Industrial, Commercial)
The Order of Entrepreneurial Merit (Ordem do Mérito Empresarial) is the most junior of the Portuguese civil orders of merit, and is intended to distinguish those who have rendered, as an entrepreneur or worker, outstanding service in promoting appreciation or services in an economic sector. The Order has three categories: Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial; each of these correspond to specific related to the associated economic sectors, which is also reflected in the insignia of each category.
About the Museum of the Presidency of the Republic
Meet the Presidents of the Republic and their official residence, the Palace of Belém. Museu da Presidência da República (MPR), as it is called in Portuguese, is housed in the Palácio de Belém’s old coach house.
The history of the development of the republic in Portugal is detailed in chronological order. With oil portraits, personal items and various documents illustrating the history and career of each of the presidents of the Portuguese republic, the museum presents all of the heads of state that have marked the country’s 20th century.
Permanent Exhibitions at the MPR
- Implementation of the Republic and National Symbols
- The Republic and its Presidents and Portrait Gallery
- State Visits and Gifts
- Powers of the President of the Republic
- Honorary Orders
- Belém Palace
Operating Hours
- Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Access is only allowed up to 30 minutes before closing.
- Closed every Monday, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, May 1st and Christmas
Museu da Presidencia da Republica
Palacio Nacional de Belem 1349-022, Lisbon, Portugal
Tel : +351 21 361 4660
Visited Aug 2023
@museupr
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