Famous Portuguese Prime Ministers

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. 

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.

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 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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.