Famous Portuguese Political Leaders

António Guterres is a Portuguese diplomat and politician who served as Portugal's prime minister from 1995 to 2002. A favorite among the masses, Guterres was ranked the best prime minister of Portugal over the last 30 years in polls conducted in 2012 and 2014. In 2009, he was named in Forbes magazine's list of world's most powerful people. 

António Costa is a Portuguese politician and lawyer. He is the current Prime Minister of Portugal, serving his second consecutive term. An important and influential politician, Costa has also held various ministerial offices apart from serving as the Mayor of Lisbon from 2007 to 2015. In 2017, the Government of India honored António Costa with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. 

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is a Portuguese academic and politician. He is the current President of Portugal, serving his second consecutive term. An influential politician, Marcelo has served as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Leader of the Opposition, and President of the Social Democratic Party. He has also worked as a legal scholar, political analyst, journalist, and law professor.

Afonso de Albuquerque was a Portuguese statesman, admiral, and general. A fierce military commander, Albuquerque expanded the influence of the Portuguese across the Indian Ocean while serving as the viceroy of the Portuguese State of India from 1509 to 1515. Afonso de Albuquerque's military brilliance in the initial Portuguese campaigns helped Portugal to become the first intercontinental empire in history. 

Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza is the head of the Most Serene House of Braganza and in this capacity a claimant to the now-defunct Portuguese throne. As one of the most important figures within the European network of royal houses, Duarte Pio often attends royal events all over the world.

José Manuel Barroso is a Portuguese university teacher and politician best known for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 6 April 2002 to 17 July 2004. He has also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Leader of the Opposition, and President of the European Commission. Barroso is the current non-executive chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group.

Aníbal Cavaco Silva is a Portuguese economist and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1985 to 1995. He also served as the President of Portugal from 2006 to 2016. Aníbal Cavaco Silva is also renowned for leading his country into the European Union.

Mário Soares was a Portuguese politician remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal on two occasions; he served as the prime minister from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1985. He also served as the President of Portugal from 1986 to 1996. Soares also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1974 and 1978.

An adviser of King Charles I and, Philip II of Spain, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba was a Spanish general and diplomat. A master of logistics, he had an unshakable self-confidence, which helped him to sail through most adverse situations. Notable for his conquest of Portugal, he is also remembered for his tyranny as the governor-general of Netherlands.

Francisco de Almeida was a Portuguese nobleman, explorer, and soldier. He served as a counsellor to John II of Portugal and played an important role during the conquest of Granada and in the battles against the Moors. Francisco de Almeida also served as the first viceroy and governor of Portuguese India in the early 1500s.

Américo Tomás was a Portuguese politician and Navy officer. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Portugal from 9 August 1958 to 25 April 1974. He also served as the Minister of the Navy from 1944 to 1958, during which he oversaw the re-construction of the Portuguese commercial navy.

Pedro Passos Coelho is a Portuguese university guest lecturer and politician. He is best known for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 21 June 2011 to 26 November 2015. Pedro Passos Coelho is also known for his service as a teacher at prestigious institutions like the Lusiada University and the University of Lisbon.

José Sócrates is a Portuguese politician best known for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 12 March 2005 to 21 June 2011. Sócrates has also served as the Minister of the Environment and Minister of Social Infrastructure. In 2014, he became the first former Portuguese Prime Minister to be accused of corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.

Maria Pia of Savoy was an Italian princess who became the Queen of Portugal after marrying King Luís I of Portugal in 1862. She was the third queen to represent the House of Savoy. Maria Pia is best remembered for her compassion and charitable works. She was often referred to as the mother of the poor and angel of charity.

Jorge Sampaio was a Portuguese lawyer and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Portugal from 9 March 1996 to 9 March 2006. Sampaio played a major role in Portugal relinquishing its last Asian territory, Macau, which was given to China. Jorge Sampaio was honored with several prestigious awards like the Charles V European Award.

Óscar Carmona was a Portuguese politician and army officer best remembered for his service as the President of Portugal from 29 November 1926 to 18 April 1951. He also served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1926 to 1928. Óscar Carmona also held a couple of ministerial positions, such as the Minister of War and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Francisco da Costa Gomes was a Portuguese politician and military officer. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Portugal from 30 September 1974 to 13 July 1976. Francisco da Costa Gomes was honored with the prestigious Field Marshal military rank in 1982.

Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias was the son of King Philip IV and Elisabeth of France. He was the heir apparent to all the dominions, kingdoms, and states of the Spanish monarchy until his demise in 1646 at the age of 16. Throughout his life, Prince Balthasar Charles was the subject of many of Velázquez's paintings.

Bruno Macaes is a Portuguese author, consultant, and politician. He is best known for his service as the Secretary of State for European Affairs during the worst period of Portugal's financial crisis in the 2010s. Bruno Macaes also contributes as a columnist for publications like New Statesman.

António de Spínola was a Portuguese politician, military officer, and author. He played a vital role in Portugal's transition to democracy after the Carnation Revolution that ended the authoritarian Estado Novo regime. António de Spínola also served as the President of Portugal for a brief period in 1974.

Francisco de Sá Carneiro was a Portuguese politician best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal in 1980. He is credited with founding the Social Democratic Party, where he served as the president from 1978 to 1980. Francisco de Sá Carneiro died in a plane crash at age 46 while serving as the Prime Minister of Portugal.

Marta Temido is a Portuguese politician and the current Minister of Health. Prior to her political career, Temido held many important positions in several medical institutions and hospitals. Marta Temido played an important role in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Teófilo Braga was a Portuguese writer, politician, and playwright. He is best remembered for his service as the second elected president of Portugal from 29 May to 5 October 1915. An adherent of Positivism, Teófilo Braga is credited with establishing a magazine called O Positivismo along with noted physician and psychiatrist Júlio de Matos.   

Almeida Garrett was a Portuguese poet, playwright, novelist, orator, journalist, and politician. He is widely regarded as the most important figure of Portuguese Romanticism. Garrett was also a humanist and great revolutionary. A peer of the realm, Almeida Garrett proposed the creation of the Conservatory of Dramatic Art and the construction of the Queen Maria II National Theatre.

Marcelo Caetano was a Portuguese scholar and politician. Best remembered as the second leader of the Estado Novo, an authoritarian regime in Portugal, Caetano served as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1968 until 1974 when the Estado Novo was overthrown during the Carnation Revolution. 

Joseph Nasi was a Portuguese diplomat and administrator. A prominent personality in the Ottoman Empire, Nasi made important contributions during the rules of Sultan Suleiman I and Selim II. A Court Jew, Joseph Nasi was made Lord of Tiberias in a failed attempt to resettle Jews in Palestine.

Eleanor of Viseu was a Portuguese princess who later served as queen consort of Portugal. Eleanor is regarded as one of Portugal's most notable queens consort and is credited with founding the city of Caldas da Rainha. Eleanor of Viseu commissioned a translation of Speculum vitae Christi into Portuguese and is thus credited with introducing the printing press to Portugal.

Álvaro Cunhal was a Portuguese politician and communist revolutionary. He is best remembered for opposing the dictatorial regime of the Portuguese corporatist state, Estado Novo. Álvaro Cunhal is also remembered for his service as the Portuguese Communist Party's secretary-general from 31 March 1961 to 5 December 1992. 

Two-time president of Portugal, Bernardino Luís Machado had initially been a professor at Lisbon’s Coimbra University. He also created Portugal’s first labor court. His first term as a president was put to an end by a rightist revolution, and his second term ended by a military revolt.

Paulo Portas is a Portuguese political and media figure. He has been one of the country's leading conservative politicians since the 1990s. Portas has served many important positions such as the Minister of National Defence and Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal.

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo was a Portuguese politician and chemical engineer. In 1979, she became the first woman to be elected as the Prime Minister of Portugal. She is only the second woman after Margaret Thatcher to hold the office of the prime minister in Western Europe. Maria also served as the Minister of Social Affairs from 1974 to 1975. 

Manuel de Arriaga was a Portuguese lawyer and politician. He is best remembered for serving as the first President of Portugal from 1911 to 1915. He also served as the first attorney-general of the First Portuguese Republic.

Marisa Matias is a Portuguese sociologist and politician. One of the most important members of the Left Bloc party, Matias ran for the presidential elections in 2016. She finished third, the best result achieved by a woman in the country. Since 2009, Marisa Matias has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament.

Rui Moreira is a Portuguese politician and businessman. Since 2013, he has been serving as the Mayor of Porto, after having been re-elected for a third consecutive term in September 2021. Prior to his political career, Rui Moreira was a competitive sailor. He has represented Portugal and has won several youth and senior titles.

Ana Gomes is a Portuguese politician and former diplomat. She played an important role in the events leading up to the independence for East Timor, which was under the control of the Portuguese for many years. From 2000 to 2003, Ana Gomes served as the Portuguese Ambassador to Indonesia, re-establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Martim Afonso de Sousa was a Portuguese colonial administrator and explorer. He played a major role in the Portuguese acquisition of Diu, India, in 1535. He also served as the governor of the Portuguese State of India from 1542 to 1545. 

Vasco Gonçalves was a Portuguese army officer best remembered for his participation in the Carnation Revolution, which ended the Estado Novo regime in Portugal. He then went on to serve as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1974 to 1975. An influential politician, Vasco Gonçalves also served as the Minister of Education and Culture in 1974.

Portuguese economist Joao Leao not just taught economics at ISCTE but was also the Secretary of State for Budget in his country. A PhD from MIT, he was a student of Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee. A Socialist politician, he had also been the minister of finance in Portugal.

Joao Maria Ferreira do Amaral was a Portuguese politician and military officer. He was assassinated in 1849 by several Chinese men while he was serving as the Governor of Macau. His assassination triggered the Battle of Passaleão between China and Portugal.

Alfredo Nobre da Costa was a Portuguese politician and engineer. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal for a brief period in 1978. He also served as the Minister of Industry and Technology from 1977 to 1978.

Macanese politician and jurist José Pereira Coutinho is also a Licentiate in law. Part of the pro-democracy New Hope party, he also scripted history by becoming the only Portuguese citizen elected to the Legislative Assembly of Macau. He is also known to help the poor and engage in various social activities.

Ho Yin was a politician, businessman, and one of the most important leaders of the Chinese community in Macau. He served as a prominent diplomatic intermediary between the Estado Novo regime in Portugal and China. Ho Yin's work and efforts led to the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration in 1987. 

João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha was a Portuguese statesman and marshal. From 1820 until his death in 1876, Saldanha was one of the most influential personalities of politics and war in Portugal. He also played an important role in the Liberal Wars and served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1825.

Joaquim Augusto Mouzinho de Albuquerque was a Portuguese cavalry officer best remembered for his service as the Governor-General of Portuguese Mozambique from 1896 to 1897. He helped Portugal annex Mozambique by defeating and capturing the tribal king Gungunhana in 1895.  

Portuguese politician Luís de Vasconcelos e Sousa, 3rd Count of Castelo Melhor was the governor of Portugal during the reign of Afonso VI and gained popularity for his effectiveness. He had a major role in Portugal’s war against Spain, which eventually led Spain to recognize Portugal’s independence.

Artur Ivens Ferraz was a Portuguese politician and military officer. He played an important role during the First World War when he was part of the Portuguese Expeditionary Force that fought in the Western Front. Artur Ivens Ferraz is perhaps best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1929 to 1930.

While he once worked for the Chinese Bank, Antonio Ng later became the founding chairman of the pro-democracy political party known as the New Macau Association. In 2021, he made headlines when the Macau government disqualified him, along with 20 more candidates, from running in elections.

Three-time governor of Macau Artur Tamagnini de Sousa Barbosa played a major role in making Macau ready for World War II and in dealing with the Japanese to secure the neutrality of the Portuguese colony. He was also the husband of poet Maria Ana Acciaioli Tamagnini.