Portugal's fresh administrative body takes office

Portugal's fresh administrative body takes office

Fresh Take:

Hey there! Let's dive into the shake-up in the Portuguese Government, helmed by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. Here's a lowdown on the new faces, old hands in new roles, and some structural changes you should know about:

Newbies on the Block

1. Gonçalo Matias, the Minster of State Reform, has taken on the job of coordinating administrative reforms and slashing bureaucracy within the country. Matias previously held a Secretary of State position under the PSD during Pedro Passos Coelho's administration, making a comeback after a 16-year break[1][2].
2. Maria Lúcia Amaral, the Minister of Home Affairs, tackles responsibilities such as public security, civil defense, electoral administration, road traffic safety, immigration, and refugee affairs. She's replacing Margarida Blasco in this role[1].

Old Hands in New Places

1. Manuel Castro Almeida, previously the Deputy Minister and Minister of Territorial Cohesion, is now the Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, taking charge of the national economy and pushing for balanced territorial development[1].
2. Margarida Balseiro Lopes, who managed the Ministry of Youth and Modernization in 2024, has now combined her duties with the Ministry of Culture, also taking charge of sports[1].
3. Other ministers like Paulo Rangel, Joaquim Sarmento, António Leitão Amaro, Nuno Melo, Ana Paula Martins, Miguel Pinto Luz, Rita Júdice, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, Fernando Alexandre, Maria da Graça Carvalho, and José Manuel Fernandes keep their roles from the previous administration[1][2].

Ministry Mergers and Splits

Remember the merger of the Ministry of Economy with the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion, and the union of the Ministry of Culture with the former Ministry of Youth and Modernization to form the new Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports? Keep an eye on these evolutionary changes in the Government[2].

With the recent elections, the number of deputies remains unchanged at 230, while the party landscape undergoes shifts. Sources tell us that Chega is now the second strongest political force, electing 60 deputies, while Partido Socialista (PS) drops to third with 58 deputies[3]. Iniciativa Liberal (IL) expands in the Assembly of the Republic, occupying nine seats, and smaller left-wing parties like Livre and Partido Comunista Português (PCP) continue their representation with six and three deputies, respectively[3].

So, that's your quick catch-up on the Portuguese Government! Stick around for more updates as the political scene unfolds.

[1] New ministries and ministers: https://www.noticiasao.pt/2025-06-24/nomeacoes-ministeriais-se-confirma-ramalho-na-cultura-e-matias-no-estado-reforma

[2] Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs: https://www.portaldogoverno.pt/pt/governo/ministros/ciencias-sociales/eloys-lozano

[3] Deputies in Parliament: https://eleicoes2025.república.pt/resultados

1. The increase in the presence of the Chega party in the Portuguese Government, with 60 deputies, is noteworthy in the context of recent elections and changes in the political landscape.
2. In the realm of general news, Portugal's Minister of Home Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaral, is focusing on areas such as road traffic safety, immigration, and refugee affairs in her role.

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