Portugal

Portugal is a country with a rich history of seafaring and discovery. Country is located in southwestern Europe and occupies the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal lies south and west of Spain, with which it shares the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal’s long coastline faces the Atlantic Ocean. Portuguese territory also includes two autonomous archipelagos, the Azores and the Madeira Islands, both located in the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and largest city.

During the past 3 000 years, Portugal has witnessed a constant ebb and flow of civilizations. Phoenician, Greek, Celt, Carthaginian, Roman and Arabic cultures have all left their imprint. In the 15th century, Portugal’s intrepid maritime explorers led by Vasco da Gama discovered new territories, leading to the accumulation of an overseas empire.

Monarchs governed Portugal until 1910, when the first Portuguese republic was proclaimed. A period of great instability followed. A series of costly colonial wars in Africa beginning in the 1960s drained Portuguese resources and weakened the national economy. Partly as a result of the dictatorship’s stubborn prosecution of the wars, a revolution occurred in Portugal in 1974, and a military junta came to power. The following year Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. A new constitution in 1976 established a democratic system of government. Since that time, Portugal has forged new ties to Europe and worked to modernize its economy. Portugal joined the European Community in 1986, and in 1999 adopted the euro.

The President, elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage, has limited powers. The parliament has 230 members, whose mandate is for four years.