This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Portugal
In Portugal, the post of Prime Minister (Portuguese: Primeiro Ministro, pron. IPA: [pɾi'mɐiɾu mɨ'niʃtɾu] or [mi'niʃtɾu]) is the head of the country's Government. He coordinates the actions of all ministers, represents the Government as a whole, reports his actions and is controlled by 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 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 most voted in the elections to be named Prime Minister.
Before the Carnation Revolution of 1974 the competences of the Prime Minister were different. 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 of State of Internal Affairs of the Kingdom (usually known by Minister of the Kingdom) occupying a prominent position. Occasionally there was a Minister Assistant to the Dispatch, 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, post of President of the Council of Ministers 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.
With the advent of the Republic in the 5 October 1910 revolution, the Prime Minister was renamed President of the Ministry. During this period the heads of government were under the strong power of the parliament and oftenly fell due to parliamentary turmoils and social instability. With the 28 May 1926 coup d'état, and eventually, after the formation of the Estado Novo quasi-fascist dictatorial regime of António de Oliveira Salazar, the Prime Minister was again named President of the Council of Ministers, and was nominally the most important figure in the country. First Salazar and then Marcello Caetano occupied this post for almost 42 years. With the Carnation Revolution came the Prime Minister, which replaced the President of the Council.

Constitution
President

• Aníbal Cavaco Silva
  Assembly of the Republic
  Government
  
  
  
  • Prime Minister
    
    
    
    • José Sócrates
      Council of Ministers
      Supreme Court of Justice
      Constitutional Court
      Council of State
      Elections: 2006 - 2005
      Political Parties
      Subdivisions
      EU Politics
      Foreign relations Numbering
      
      Constitutional Monarchy
      
      Third Republic