Luis Montenegro
Luís Montenegro has been Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2024, leading a minority centre-right government in a parliament reshaped by the rise of the radical right. Born in Espinho in 1973, he trained as a lawyer at the Catholic University in Porto and entered politics young, becoming leader of the Social Democratic Party's youth wing. He was mayor of Espinho from 2005 to 2009, then a member of parliament, and led the PSD parliamentary group from 2011 to 2017 during the austerity years under Pedro Passos Coelho, when Portugal was implementing the terms of its 78 billion euro bailout. He lost the party leadership contest in 2020 and won it in 2022. The 2024 election followed the resignation of the Socialist prime minister António Costa over a corruption investigation into lithium and hydrogen projects, in which Costa was not ultimately charged. Montenegro's Democratic Alliance won narrowly, but the anti-establishment party Chega quadrupled its seats, and he governed without a majority after refusing any agreement with it. His government fell in March 2025 when he lost a confidence vote over questions about Spinumviva, a consultancy he had founded and transferred to his wife and sons, which held contracts with companies regulated by the state. He called an election, won it with an increased share in May 2025, and returned to office — though Chega rose again to become the main opposition force, displacing the Socialists. He has pursued tax cuts for younger workers, a tighter immigration regime, and increased defence spending to meet NATO commitments. Portugal has held four elections in six years, and his second government remains a minority.
- Lived: 1973 CE – ?
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Roles: Prime Minister of Portugal (2024-present)
