Luís Montenegro Sworn as Prime Minister Of Portugal

Luís Montenegro, a center-right leader, has been sworn in as Portugal's new prime minister at the Ajuda Palace in Lisbon. 

He will lead a minority government, which will face challenges in passing legislation due to the fragmented nature of the country's parliament. Montenegro has pledged to reduce taxes for the middle class and create a more business-friendly environment. The ultimate goal is to attract back nearly one-third of Portugal's young citizens who have left the country in search of better job opportunities. In addition, he aims to carry out structural reforms that will ensure the survival of public services and implement measures to address the housing crisis.

About Portugal

Capital: Lisbon

Official EU language(s): Portuguese

EU member country: since 1 January 1986

Currency: euro. 

Schengen: Member since 26 March 1995

Political system

• Portugal is a republic with two leaders: the prime minister and the president. The president has the power to appoint the prime minister and other government members.

India and Portugal

• Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered a direct sea route between Europe and India in May 1498, opening the door for Portugal to access the highly profitable Indian spice market and emerge as a dominant colonial trading power.
• This marked the beginning of relations between India and Portugal that date back over 500 years.
• In 1502 AD, the Portuguese established a trading center at Kollam in Kerala. They later acquired several other enclaves on the western coast including Goa in 1510, which became the capital of their activities in the Orient.
• India and Portugal had diplomatic relations since 1949, but they went into decline in 1950 when Portugal refused to surrender its enclaves. 
• In 1961, under Operation Vijay, Indian military action liberated Goa, ending over 450 years of Portuguese rule. 
• However, diplomatic relations were restored in 1974 following the Portuguese Carnation Revolution, and a treaty recognizing India's sovereignty over Goa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli was signed in 1974 and came into force in 1975.

Political Relations

Portugal and India share warm and friendly relations. Portugal supports India's permanent membership in the UNSC and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. The first India-EU Summit was initiated by Portugal in 2000.