Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to become a Special Administrative
Region of China on 20 December 1999)
Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982 and 1 June 1989
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dr. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES (since
9 March 1986); election last held 13 February 1991 (next to be held NA
February 1996); results - Dr. Mario Lopes SOARES 70%, Basilio HORTA
14%, Carlos CARVALHAS 13%, Carlos MARQUES 3%; note - SOARES is
finishing his second term and by law cannot run for a third
consecutive term
head of government: Prime Minister Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 6
November 1985); note - will be replaced in the October 1995 elections
Council of State: acts as a consultative body to the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on
recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica): elections last
held 6 October 1991 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - PSD
50.4%, PS 29.3%, CDU 8.8%, CDS 4.4%, PSN 1.7%, PRD 0.6%, other 4.8%;
seats - (230 total) PSD 136, PS 71, CDU 17, CDS 5, PSN 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice (Supremo Tribunal de
Justica)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Fernando
NOGUEIRA; Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), Antonio GUTERRES; Party of
Democratic Renewal (PRD), Pedro CANAVARRO; Portuguese Communist Party
(PCP), Carlos CARVALHAS; Social Democratic Center (CDS), Manuel
MONTEIRO; National Solidarity Party (PSN), Manuel SERGIO; Center
Democratic Party (CDS); United Democratic Coalition (CDU; Communists)