A study by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation analyzed the professional experience of the ministers who make up the Portuguese Government. The results show that the majority of executive members have relevant experience in the area they oversee, which demonstrates a certain care in the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
However, the study reveals that 22% of ministers, that is, about one fifth of the total, don't have significant professional experience for the portfolio they will hold. This proportion represents a considerable slice of the executive without direct background in the area they lead.
Political career emerges as a dominant element in the Government's composition, with appointments to ministerial positions frequently falling on former government officials and people with a political background. This trend indicates that political proximity is a determining factor in the formation of the executive.
Despite this, the study highlights that Portugal is the Southern European country with the most independents in Government, that is, personalities without party affiliations who hold ministerial portfolios. This particularity distinguishes Portugal from its southern neighbors on the continent.
