Semi-Presidentialism in Portugal: Academic Quarrels amidst Institutional Stability

Abstract

AbstractPortugal’s experience with semi-presidentialism has been relatively stable, particularly after 1982. However, the very definition of the country’s system of government has been contested. To demonstrate this stability and map the accompanying academic debate, this chapter will first define the main systems of government found around the world. It will then go on to discuss why Portugal chose the presidential-parliamentary variant of semi-presidential system, in 1976, later adopting the premier-presidential version, in 1982. Next, it identifies the conditions that led to the consolidation and stability of the latter system, focusing on the relationships between the president, the electorate, and the prime minister and the cabinet. Subsequently, the chapter briefly evaluates how the country’s executive type has fared under the 2011–2014 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. The final section presents a conclusion and lays out an agenda for future research.