Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the factors that might explain why this is no longer the case, and presents a global overview of the processes of economic, social, and political change in democratic Portugal since the Great Recession. It looks at the relationships between the presidents and their prime ministers, suggesting that the main feature of Portuguese presidents - that they exercise ‘moderating powers’ above the party political fray - was not sustained during the early part of this period, a situation that has been redressed by the election of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The book seeks to characterize patterns of ministerial recruitment in Portugal before, during and after the 2011-2013 eurozone crisis. It considers the eurozone crisis to be a ‘crucial moment’ for the EU, which might have effected important changes in the politicization of the EU in the national media.