Knowing how much the President of the Republic earns in Portugal continues to be a recurring curiosity, especially when talking about public salaries, benefits associated with the position and perks that continue even after the end of the mandate. Between gross amounts, discounts, representation expenses and rights attributed to former presidents, there are numbers that rarely go unnoticed and help to better understand how the top of the Portuguese political hierarchy works.
The answer to the question about presidential salary has recently changed. In 2025, the 5% cut that had been in force since the troika period ended and, this year, the value remains at 11,718 euros gross per month. This amount represents 650 euros more than in 2024, but it is far from the amount that enters the Belém tenant’s bank account at the end of the month, according to Ekonomista.
What’s left after mandatory discounts
Like any worker, the President of the Republic is subject to discounts for IRS, Social Security and ADSE. After all withholdings have been applied, the net salary approaches 6,000 euros per month, which means that almost half of the gross amount is absorbed by taxes and contributions.
The total amount results from the sum of two distinct installments. On the one hand, the base salary, set at 8,370 euros. On the other hand, representation expenses, worth 3,348 euros, equivalent to 40% of the base salary. This second component is intended to cover costs associated with official commitments, institutional receptions and protocol events.
End of a legacy of the financial crisis
For more than ten years, political office holders were subject to a 5% salary cut, a measure introduced in 2010 in the context of international financial assistance. Although the troika left Portugal several years ago, this cut remained until the State Budget for 2025.
In this budget, the Government decided to definitively eliminate the reduction and also apply the general update of the civil service, set at 2.15%. It was this combination of factors that explained the increase applied in 2025 and which remains in force throughout 2026, according to the same source.
The perks associated with the presidential position
The salary is just part of what is associated with the role of President of the Republic. The head of state’s official residence is the Palácio de Belém, a historic building in the center of Lisbon that dates back several centuries.
In practice, many presidents chose not to live permanently in Belém, using the space mainly as a place of work and for official events. The last person to effectively reside in the palace was Ramalho Eanes, who ended his term in 1986.
In addition to Belém, the President also has the Palácio da Cidadela de Cascais as a summer residence and the Paço dos Duques de Bragança as his official residence in the north of the country. These spaces are prepared to host foreign heads of state and high-level meetings.
Official transport includes armored vehicles from top brands, with a driver, special registration number and presidential flag. Permanent security is ensured by the Republican National Guard, including a dedicated detachment and regular ceremonies such as the Render of the Guard in front of the Belém Palace.
After leaving Belém
The end of the mandate does not mean the end of benefits, says the same source. Former presidents are entitled to a lifetime pension corresponding to 80% of the current President’s salary. At current values, this translates into around 9,374 euros gross per month.
In addition to this pension, other benefits are added. They maintain the right to an official car with a driver and fuel paid for by the State, as well as a work office with an advisor and a secretary, both chosen by the person and paid with public money.
Police protection also remains, as does the diplomatic passport for traveling abroad. There is also the possibility of using and carrying a defensive weapon, a privilege reserved for a very limited number of former holders of sovereign positions.
Presidential salary as a national reference
The salary of the President of the Republic serves as the calculation basis for all other political salaries. At the top of the hierarchy is Belém, and from there decreasing percentages apply. The president of the Assembly of the Republic receives 80% of the presidential salary, around 9,375 euros gross. The prime minister receives 75%, which corresponds to 8,769 euros. Ministers receive 7,617 euros and secretaries of state 6,780 euros per month.
In the case of deputies, the value varies depending on the regime. Exclusively, the salary is 4,604 euros gross per month, which is lower for those who carry out other professional activities simultaneously, according to the source previously mentioned.
To frame these values, it is important to look at the national reality. According to the National Statistics Institute, the average gross salary in Portugal is around 1,528 euros per month. The national minimum wage is set at 920 euros in 2026.
Even so, there are public positions with much higher remuneration than the President of the Republic. Managers of companies such as Caixa Geral de Depósitos or TAP can exceed 30,000 euros per month, in some cases reaching over 40,000 euros.
In companies listed on the stock exchange, values are also on another level, with administrations earning more than 20,000 euros per month, even in the least well-paid cases in the main national index.
And in the European context?
The international comparison places Portugal on a more modest plane. The president of the European Commission receives around 38,300 euros per month. António Costa, as president of the European Council, receives a similar amount. European commissioners earn approximately 30,500 euros per month, while MEPs receive around 21,400 euros per month, according to .
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