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Date formed 26 November 2015; 16 months ago (2015-11-26) No. of ministers 17 ministers and the prime minister Status in legislature Socialist Party (PS) minority government,supported by Left Bloc (B.E.), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV) Opposition parties Social Democratic Party (PSD)CDS – People's PartyPeople–Animals–Nature | ||
The XXI Constitutional Government of Portugal (Portuguese: XXI Governo Constitucional de Portugal) is the 21st Cabinet of the Portuguese government since the establishment of the current constitution. It was established on 26 November 2015 as a Socialist Party (PS) minority government led by prime minister António Costa.
Background
After the 2015 legislative election resulted in a hung parliament, the leader of the Portugal Ahead alliance, former prime minister Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD) was given the task of forming a new government. As his minority government however failed to secure support by the Socialists, the government programme was rejected by a vote of 123 to 107 MPs, leading to the government's disbandment within less than a month.
In the meantime, Socialist Party leader António Costa had succeeded in securing support for a Socialist minority government by the Left Bloc (B.E.), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Ecologist Party "The Greens" (PEV). Subsequently, he was appointed the new prime minister on 24 November 2015. The cabinet members took their oath of office on 26 November 2015.