Leader of the Opposition (Portugal)
| Leader of the Opposition | |
|---|---|
| Líder da Oposição | |
| File:Partido Social Democrata Logotipo.png Logo of the biggest party in opposition | |
 | |
| Term length | No fixed term While leader of the largest political party not in government |
| Inaugural holder | Francisco de Sá Carneiro (of the Third Republic) |
| Formation | 23 July 1976 (informally) |
The Leader of the Opposition (Template:Lang-pt) is an unofficial, mostly conventional and honorary title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party in the Assembly of the Republic — the Portuguese parliament — not within the government; historically, since the Carnation Revolution of 1974, these have almost always been the Socialist and the Social Democratic Parties.
Currently, the Socialist Party holds a minority government supported by a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Left Bloc, the Portuguese Communist Party, and the Ecologist Party "The Greens". The Opposition consists of the Social Democratic Party, CDS – People's Party, and People–Animals–Nature.
The current Leader of the Opposition is Rui Rio, since 18 February 2018, after having been elected President of the Social Democratic Party on the previous 13 January.
Role
Due to its workings being based mostly on custom and convention, the Leader of the Opposition has a small official role, even though it is legally, honorifically, and nominally recognised. Law No. 40/2006, that establishes the order of precedence of public authorities in general official acts, places the Leader of the Opposition in eighth place in the list of precedences, only behind the President of the Republic, the legislative speaker, the sitting Prime Minister of Portugal, the Presidents of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, the Presidents of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Court of Auditors, former Presidents of the Republic, and sitting government ministers.[1]
Even though the Leader of the Opposition is not entitled to a specific salary aside from the one they may have by reason of holding a public office on their own — such as that of deputy — the officeholder usually receives much more attention from the media in parliamentary sessions and activities. It is not, however, required for a Leader of the Opposition to hold the post of deputy in the Assembly of the Republic — Rui Rio, who currently leads the Opposition, holds no parliamentary seat.[2]
List of Leaders of the Opposition
| Colour key (for political parties) |
|---|
References
- ^ Law of Precedences in the Portuguese State Protocol. Diário da República (Law 40/2006) (in Portuguese). August 25, 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ Paula Sá. "Os outros desafios de Rui Rio". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 February 2018.