The XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal () was the 21st government of the Third Portuguese Republic, under the current Constitution. It was in office from 26 November 2015 to 26 October 2019, and was formed by the members of the Socialist Party (PS). António Costa, leader of the PS, served as Prime Minister.
Background After the 2015 legislative election had resulted in a hung parliament, the leader of the Portugal Ahead alliance (PPD/PSD.CDS–PP), then Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho was given the task of forming a new government. However, as his minority government failed to secure support by any other party, notably the Socialist, the Government Programme was rejected by a vote of 123 to 107 deputies, leading to the government's disbandment within less than a month.
In the meantime, Socialist Party secretary-general António Costa had succeeded in securing support for a Socialist minority government by the Left Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV), in a confidence and supply agreement. Subsequently, he was appointed as the new Prime Minister on 24 November 2015. The cabinet members took their oath of office on 26 November 2015.
Party breakdown Party breakdown of cabinet ministers by the end of the government's time in office: (Prime Minister not included) Socialist Party 11 Independents 8
Composition The government was composed of the Prime Minister and 17 ministries comprising ministers, secretaries and under-secretaries of state. OfficeMinister Party Start of term End of term Prime Minister António Costa PS 26 October 2019 Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva PS 26 October 2019 Minister of Premiership and Administrative Modernization Maria Manuel Leitão Marques PS 18 February 2019Mariana Vieira da SilvaPS18 February 201926 October 2019Minister of Finance Mário CentenoIndependent26 October 2019 Minister of National Defence José Alberto Azeredo Lopes Independent 12 October 2018 João Gomes Cravinho Independent 12 October 201826 October 2019 Minister of Internal Administration Constança Urbano de Sousa Independent 18 October 2017 Eduardo Cabrita PS 26 October 2019 Minister of Justice Francisca Van Dunem Independent 26 October 2019Minister of Economy Manuel Caldeira Cabral Independent 15 October 2018 Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister (Ministro-Adjunto do Primeiro-Ministro) Eduardo Cabrita PS 21 October 2017 Pedro Siza Vieira PS 21 October 201715 October 2018Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and of Economy Pedro Siza VieiraPS15 October 201826 October 2019 Minister of Culture João Soares PS 8 April 2016 Luís Filipe Castro Mendes Independent 15 October 2018 Graça Fonseca PS 26 October 2019 MInister of Science, Technology and Higher Education Manuel Heitor Independent 26 October 2019 Minister of Education Tiago Brandão Rodrigues Independent 26 October 2019 Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security José Vieira da Silva PS 26 October 2019Minister of Health Adalberto Campos Fernandes Independent 15 October 2018 Marta Temido Independent 15 October 201826 October 2019 Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Pedro Marques PS 18 February 2019Minister of Planning Nelson de SouzaPS18 February 201926 October 2019Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Pedro Nuno SantosPS18 February 201926 October 2019 Minister of Environment João Pedro Matos Fernandes Independent 15 October 2018Minister of Environment and Energy Transition João Pedro Matos FernandesIndependent15 October 2018 26 October 2019Minister of Agriculture Luís Capoulas SantosPS26 October 2019Minister of Sea Ana Paula VitorinoPS26 October 2019
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