President to receive Portugal’s PM-elect, expects to swear in new goverment Thursday

Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is expecting to receive Prime Minister-elect Luís Montenegro on Wednesday to present the composition of the 25th Constitutional Government, which he plans to swear in on Thursday.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who was speaking to journalists after the inauguration of the 95th edition of the Lisbon Book Fair, said that on Thursday he will only be able to swear in the prime minister and ministers, with the secretaries of state being sworn in on another day, probably Friday.

“Now I’m going to take a look around the fair, have lunch here and then go to Belém to receive the prime minister,” he said.

As for the dates of the swearing-in of the members of the Government, the head of state said: “I can only confirm

after meeting with the prime minister.”

Asked if he expects changes in the composition of the executive compared to the outgoing PSD/CDS-PP Government, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa replied: “I don’t expect anything, I have to wait and see”.

The head of state appointed the leader of the PSD, Luís Montenegro, as prime minister last Thursday, after receiving the ten parties with seats in parliament, with repeated hearings with the three largest parties.

Following the early legislative elections on May 18, the 17th Legislature began with the first plenary meeting of Parliament on Tuesday.

The Democratic Alliance coalition (PSD/CDS-PP), led by Luís Montenegro, won the legislative elections without an absolute majority, electing 91 MPs out of 230, of whom 89 are from the PSD and two from the CDS-PP.

Chega became the second largest parliamentary force, with 60 MPs, followed by the PS with 58, IL with nine, Livre with six, PCP with three, and BE, PAN and JPP with one each.

Luís Montenegro, who became prime minister on April 2, 2023 after eight years of PS government, will form his second executive, which will be the 25th Constitutional Government.