Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1246

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PORTUGAL.

Portugal has been an independent State since the. twelfth centa.j, until 1910 it was a monarchy. The last King was Manoel II. of the house of Braganza-Coburg, born November 15, 1889, younger son of King Carlos I. and Queen Mary Amelie, daughter of Philippe Duc d'Orleans. Manoel II. succeeded to the throne on the assassination of his father and elder brother, Prince Luiz Philip, February 1, 1908. On October 5, 1910, the republic was proclaimed, after a short revolution, and a provisional government established with Dr. Theophilo Braga as the Provisional President (October 5, 1910, to August 24, 1911). The first President of the Republic was Dr. Manoel de Arriaga (August 24, 1911, to May 27, 1915).

On August 20th, 1911, a new constitution was adopted. This provides that there shall be two Chambers. In the first, which is called the National Council, the members (164) shall be elected by direct suffrage for three years. The Second or Upper Chamber (71 members) shall be elected by all the Municipal Councils, and shall be renewable half at a time every three years. The President of the Republic is elected by both Chambers with a mandate for four years, but he cannot be re-elected. The President must be at least 35 years of age. He appoints Ministers, but these are responsible to Parliament. The President may not be present ' in the Chambers at debates. He is to receive a yearly salary of 2,600Z. , with 1,3002. for allowances, or a total of 3.900Z. yearly. The Constitution may be revised every ten years.

The Powers formally recognised the Republic on September 11, 1911.

President of the Republic. — Dr. Antonio Jose de Almeida. (Born 1866. Elected August 6, 1919.)

The Cabinet, which was formed on March 2, 1921, is as follows : —

Premier and Minister of the Interior. — Dr. Bernardino Machado.

Minister of Foreign Affairs. — Domingos Pereira.

Minister of Finance. — Antonio Maria Silva.

Minister of Justice. — Lopes Cardoso.

Minister of War. — Alvaro Castro.

Minister of Marine. — Fernando Brederode.

Minister for the Colonics.— Paiva Comes.

Minister of Commerce. — Antonio da Fontseca.

Minister of Education. — Julio Martins.

Minister of Labour. — Domingues dos Santos.

Minister of Agriculture. — S. Durao.

Area and Population.

Area and population at the Census of 1900 and December 1, 1911. The