Emídio Sousa, the former Secretary of State for the Environment, has assumed the position of Secretary for Communities under the XXV Government led by Luís Montenegro (PSD/CDS-PP), which was inaugurated today.
The new head of Communities, holding a master’s degree in Public Administration and a degree in Municipal Administration, also served as the Mayor of Santa Maria da Feira from 2013 to 2024, in addition to being a member of parliament.
José Cesário was elected in the legislative elections of May 18, representing the circle Outside Europe with 19.60%, narrowly losing to Chega, which won with 20.78%.
A well-known figure among Portuguese emigrants and a parliamentary veteran who first took office in 1983, Cesário has held the Communities portfolio on four occasions under the leadership of Manuela Ferreira Leite, Pedro Passos Coelho, and Luís Montenegro.
The list of secretaries of state published on the Presidency of the Republic’s website notes another new addition in the ministry led by the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel. Ana Isabel Xavier, who was the Secretary of State for Defense in the previous administration, now assumes the role of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, previously held by Nuno Sampaio.
A university lecturer and researcher, Ana Isabel Xavier served as Deputy Director-General of National Defense Policy, President of the Association of Auditors of National Defense Courses, and the Association of Young Auditors for Defense, Security, and Citizenship. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations, a master’s degree in Sociology of Development and Social Transformation, and a degree in International Relations.
Inês Domingos remains as Secretary of State for European Affairs, a role that returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Luís Montenegro’s governments, after previously being directly under the then Prime Minister António Costa’s office.
This second government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro consists of 16 ministries, one less than the previous administration, retaining 13 out of 17 ministers from the outgoing executive.
The inauguration of the XXV Constitutional Government took place today, 18 days post-election, marking the fastest government formation process under President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s mandate. The swearing-in of the secretaries of state is scheduled for noon on Friday.
