A study analyzed 507 ministers over 50 years of democracy in Portugal. The research sought to understand the patterns of access to executive power and the characteristics of those who manage to reach Government.
Researcher Miguel Santos Carrapatoso is the author of this study, which examines in depth the composition of the Portuguese executive and the political selection mechanisms that determine who holds ministerial portfolios.
The study reveals that access to Portuguese executive power functions as a fairly closed club. The data show restricted recruitment patterns, where a limited group of profiles has a higher probability of joining the Government.
The research also shows that women remain far from the center of power in Portugal. Despite 50 years of democracy, female representation in the executive remains insufficient, suggesting persistent barriers to equal participation in governance.
