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Portugal

Government of Portugal on 23 January 1978

II Constitutional Government, from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978 · Sources

Governments since 1976‹›
‹ I · Mário SoaresII Constitutional Government · Mário SoaresIII · Alfredo Nobre da Costa ›

PSPSD (with or without CDS-PP)presidential initiative, no party

You are looking at a past government, with who was in office on that day. Back to the current government →

Form of governmentCoalition: PS + CDS-PP149 of 263 MPs (PS 107, CDS-PP 42) after the election of 25 April 1976, with a majority

Wikipedia: 1976 Portuguese legislative election (resultados)

António Ramalho EanesPresident of the RepublicIndependent

President from 14 July 1976 to 9 March 1986.

Profile and polls →

appoints and swears in

Mário SoaresPrime MinisterPS

In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

After this government

  • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
  • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983
  • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 3rd Portuguese Assembly 31 May 1983–3 Nov 1985
  • Prime Minister, IX Constitutional Government 9 Jun 1983–6 Nov 1985 · source
  • President of Portugal 9 Mar 1986–9 Mar 1996
  • Member of the European Parliament · Fifth European Parliament 20 Jul 1999–19 Jul 2004

Wikidata record

Ministers on this day

  1. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

    António de Almeida SantosAssistant Minister to the Prime MinisterPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Minister of State, IX Constitutional Government 9 Jun 1983–6 Nov 1985 · source
    • President of the Assembly of the Republic 31 Oct 1995–4 Apr 2002 · source

    Wikidata record

  2. National Defence

    Mário Firmino MiguelNational DefenceIndependent

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • National Defence, III Constitutional Government 29 Aug 1978–22 Nov 1978 · source

    Wikidata record

  3. Finance and Planning

    Vitor ConstâncioFinance and PlanningPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983
    • Governor of the Bank of Portugal 1985–1986
    • General Secretary of the Socialist Party (Portugal) 29 Jun 1986–15 Jan 1989
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 5th Portuguese Assembly 13 Aug 1987–3 Nov 1991
    • Governor of the Bank of Portugal 9 Feb 2000–31 May 2010
    • University of Navarre (employer) since Jun 2018 · source

    Wikidata record

  4. Justice

    José Santos PaisJusticeIndependent

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    No later office with a date on Wikidata.

    Wikidata record

  5. Internal Administration

    Alberto Oliveira e SilvaInternal AdministrationPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 27 February 1978.

    After this government

    No later office with a date on Wikidata.

    Wikidata record

  6. Foreign Affairs

    Victor Sá MachadoForeign AffairsCDS-PP

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    No later office with a date on Wikidata.

    Wikidata record

  7. Administrative Reform

    Rui PenaAdministrative ReformCDS-PP

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983
    • National Defense, XIV Constitutional Government 3 Jul 2001–6 Apr 2002 · source

    Wikidata record

  8. Agriculture and Fisheries

    Luís SaiasAgriculture and FisheriesPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983

    Wikidata record

  9. Industry and Technology

    Carlos MelanciaIndustry and TechnologyPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Sea, IX Constitutional Government 9 Jun 1983–15 Feb 1985 · source
    • Social Infrastructure, IX Constitutional Government 15 Feb 1985–6 Nov 1985 · source
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 4th Portuguese Assembly 4 Nov 1985–12 Aug 1987
    • Governor of Macau 9 Jul 1987–23 Apr 1991

    Wikidata record

  10. Commerce and Tourism

    Basílio HortaCommerce and TourismCDS-PP

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Commerce and Tourism, VI Constitutional Government 3 Jan 1980–9 Jan 1981 · source
    • Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, VII Constitutional Government 9 Jan 1981–4 Sep 1981 · source
    • Agriculture, Commerce and Fisheries, VIII Constitutional Government 4 Sep 1981–9 Jun 1983 · source

    Wikidata record

  11. Labour

    António Maldonado GonelhaLabourPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983
    • Health, IX Constitutional Government 9 Jun 1983–6 Nov 1985 · source

    Wikidata record

  12. Education and Culture

    Mário Sottomayor CardiaEducation and CulturePS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 26 Sep 1983–1 Jan 1988

    Wikidata record

  13. Social Affairs

    António ArnautSocial AffairsPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983

    Wikidata record

  14. Transports and Communications

    Manuel Ferreira LimaTransports and CommunicationsPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980

    Wikidata record

  15. Housing and Public Works

    António Sousa GomesHousing and Public WorksPS

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 1st/B Portuguese Assembly 3 Jan 1980–12 Nov 1980
    • Member of the Assembly of the Republic · 2nd Portuguese Assembly 13 Nov 1980–30 May 1983

    Wikidata record

  16. Minister of the Republic for the Azores

    Octávio Galvão de FigueiredoMinister of the Republic for the AzoresIndependent

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    No reliable Wikidata record found.

  17. Minister of the Republic for Madeira

    Lino MiguelMinister of the Republic for MadeiraIndependent

    In office from 23 January 1978 to 29 August 1978.

    After this government

    No reliable Wikidata record found.

Where are they now

For each person who sat in this government’s Council of Ministers: the offices open as of 25 October 2026 (the current government, offices checked by hand against a dated source, and those Wikidata lists with no end date); when none is open, the most recent record, with its dates. Each office shows its source and, where there is one, the date of the source.

WhoIn this governmentNow, or the latest record
Mário Soares
Wikidata record		Prime Minister

Died in 2017

António de Almeida Santos
Wikidata record		Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

Died in 2016

Mário Firmino Miguel
Wikidata record		National Defence

Died in 1991

Vitor Constâncio
Wikidata record		Finance and Planning
  • University of Navarre (employer) since Jun 2018 · source
José Santos Pais
Wikidata record		Justice
  • Justice, II Constitutional Government 23 Jan 1978–29 Aug 1978 · source
Alberto Oliveira e Silva
Wikidata record		Internal Administration

Died in 2011

Jaime Gama
Wikidata record		Internal Administration
  • President of the Assembly of the Republic 16 Mar 2005–20 Jun 2011 · source
Victor Sá Machado
Wikidata record		Foreign Affairs

Died in 2002

Rui Pena
Wikidata record		Administrative Reform

Died in 2018

Luís Saias
Wikidata record		Agriculture and Fisheries

Died in 2023

Carlos Melancia
Wikidata record		Industry and Technology

Died in 2022

Basílio Horta
Wikidata record		Commerce and Tourism
  • Agriculture, Commerce and Fisheries, VIII Constitutional Government 4 Sep 1981–9 Jun 1983 · source
António Maldonado Gonelha
Wikidata record		Labour

Died in 2022

Mário Sottomayor Cardia
Wikidata record		Education and Culture

Died in 2006

António Arnaut
Wikidata record		Social Affairs

Died in 2018

Manuel Ferreira Lima
Wikidata record		Transports and Communications

Died in 2001

António Sousa Gomes
Wikidata record		Housing and Public Works

Died in 2015

Octávio Galvão de FigueiredoMinister of the Republic for the AzoresNo reliable Wikidata record found.
Lino MiguelMinister of the Republic for MadeiraNo reliable Wikidata record found.

Everyone who sat in this government’s Council of Ministers

With start and end dates. Reshuffles show as two lines for the same ministry.

MinistryWhoFrom … to
Prime MinisterMário Soares23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Assistant Minister to the Prime MinisterAntónio de Almeida Santos23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
National DefenceMário Firmino Miguel23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Finance and PlanningVitor Constâncio23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
JusticeJosé Santos Pais23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Internal AdministrationAlberto Oliveira e Silva23 Jan 1978 – 27 Feb 1978
Internal AdministrationJaime Gama27 Feb 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Foreign AffairsVictor Sá Machado23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Administrative ReformRui Pena23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Agriculture and FisheriesLuís Saias23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Industry and TechnologyCarlos Melancia23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Commerce and TourismBasílio Horta23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
LabourAntónio Maldonado Gonelha23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Education and CultureMário Sottomayor Cardia23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Social AffairsAntónio Arnaut23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Transports and CommunicationsManuel Ferreira Lima23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Housing and Public WorksAntónio Sousa Gomes23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Minister of the Republic for the AzoresOctávio Galvão de Figueiredo23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978
Minister of the Republic for MadeiraLino Miguel23 Jan 1978 – 29 Aug 1978

How this page is made

Past governments show the Council of Ministers (prime minister and ministers) with each person’s dates, taken from the English Wikipedia tables, which cite the historical archive of the government portal. Ministry names are translated. Secretaries of state and news only appear for the government in office. Photos only appear when a portrait has a confirmed licence; everyone else is shown with initials.

Where the career paths come from

Later offices come from Wikidata (properties «position held», P39, and «employer», P108), only lines with a start date. Ministerial posts come from the government tables, not from Wikidata. For members of parliament, the dates are those of the legislature they were elected to. Many lines on Wikidata have no reference of their own; when they do, it is linked. The most recent offices of ministers from 2015 onwards were checked by hand against dated sources (Parliament, European Parliament, RTP, Observador, ECO). Veramundi adds no labels or judgements: it shows the offices and the dates, and readers draw their own conclusions. Data collected on 25 October 2026; corrections are welcome at info@veramundi.com.

Sources

Photographs