XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal

The XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal (Portuguese: XVIII Governo Constitucional de Portugal) had José Sócrates (PS) as the prime minister and lasted from 26 October 2009 [1] to 21 June 2011.

XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal
Cabinet of Portugal
Date formed26 October 2009 (2009-10-26)
Date dissolved21 June 2011 (2011-06-21) (1 year, 7 months and 26 days)
People and organisations
PresidentAníbal Cavaco Silva
Prime MinisterJosé Sócrates (PS)
No. of ministers16 ministers and the prime minister
Member partySocialist Party
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition parties
History
Election(s)Portuguese legislative election, 2009
PredecessorXVII Constitutional Government of Portugal
SuccessorXIX Constitutional Government of Portugal

Composition
Ministry Incumbent Party Term
Prime Minister José Sócrates Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
State and Foreign Affairs Luís Amado Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
State and Finance Fernando Teixeira dos Santos Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Minister of the Presidency Pedro Silva Pereira Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
National Defence Augusto Santos Silva Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Internal Administration Rui Pereira Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Justice Alberto Martins Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Economy, Innovation and Development José António Vieira da Silva Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries António Serrano Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Public Works, Transport and Communications António Mendonça Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Environment and Spatial Planning Dulce Pássaro Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Labour and Social Solidarity Helena André Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Health Ana Jorge Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Education Isabel Alçada Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Science, Technology and Higher Education Mariano Gago Independent 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Culture Gabriela Canavilhas Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
Parliamentary Affairs Jorge Lacão Socialist Party 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011

Events

In 2008–09, with the Great Recession starting to hit Portugal and facing recession and high unemployment,[2] austerity was waned as part of the European economic stimulus plan.[3] Nevertheless, support for Sócrates and the Socialists eroded and the ruling party lost its majority in the 2009 election.[2] The second government of José Sócrates faced a deterioration of the economic and financial state of the country, with skyrocketing deficit and growing debt.[2] Austerity was resumed in 2010 while the country entered a hard financial crisis in the context of the European debt crisis.[4]

On 23 March 2011, Sócrates submitted his resignation to President Aníbal Cavaco Silva after the Parliament rejected a new austerity package (the fourth in a year), leading to the 2011 snap election. Financial status of the country deteriorated and on 6 April Sócrates caretaker government requested a bail-out program which was conceded. The €78 billion IMF/European Union bailout to Portugal thus started and would last until May 2014. Sócrates lost the snap election held on 5 June 2011 and resigned as Secretary-General of the Socialist Party.[5] For most of his political career, Sócrates was associated to several corruption cases, notably Independente University and Freeport cases.[6].

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References
  1. "Taking possession of the 18th Constitutional Government, (in Portuguese),". Republica Portuguesa. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. "Portugal > Sovereign debt crisis". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. Peres Jorge, Rui (30 May 2017). "2009: O procedimento que ensombra o país há oito anos" [2009: the procedure that haunts the country for eight years] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Negócios. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. "Sócrates dá primeira entrevista após aprovação do pacote de austeridade" [Sócrates gives first interview following approval of the austerity package] (in Portuguese). Jornal de Negócios. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. "Socrates demite-se". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 5 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  6. Gomes, Margarida (22 November 2014). "José Sócrates: uma carreira cheia de suspeitas" [José Sócrates: a career full of suspictions]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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