European integration and the presidentialization of political systems: an application to the portuguese case

Abstract

Poguntke and Webb (2005) formulated the theory of presidentialization, according to which the parliamentary and semi-presidential systems tended to approximate to presidential system of government in their practical aspect without, in most cases, noticeable changes in the formal aspects. The internationalization of policymaking is one of the main causes of this process, which is especially important in the case of member states of the European Union. This work focuses on studying the Portuguese case. Several authors have identified the increase in the powers of Prime Ministers and pointed out europeanization as one of the causes for this phenomenon. However, so far, no attempt has been made to validate these ideas through statistical analysis. This work analyses the impacts of europeanization on the ministerial selection in the Portuguese political system through an econometric model. It concludes that, the European integration has no contribution in the likelihood of an experience minister being appointed. However, the European integration has contributed to an increase in the likelihood of independent ministers

being appointed, in relation to inside ministers, which is interpreted as evidence of the growth of the Prime Minister's powers in the Portuguese system of government. Thus, the present work allows for the conclusion that, in fact, europeanization has contributed to the presidentialization of the political system in Portugal.