Graduated in Law from the Faculty of Law of the Portuguese Catholic University, Paulo Rangel  is a lawyer by profession.

He was elected Deputy to the Assembly of the Republic in the 10th legislature, in 2005, at which time he formalized his affiliation with the PSD.

Under the leadership of Manuela Ferreira Leite, he assumed the presidency of the Parliamentary Group in June 2008.

In 2009, he headed the party list for the European Parliament elections, which he won.

In 2015, he was elected Vice-President of the EPP at the Madrid congress.

Paulo Rangel is the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal in the XXIV and XXV Governments.