Costa stressed that President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa accepted his resignation. The position of head of government is not compatible with the accusations made, said the socialist. He was surprised on Tuesday morning by the news that the accusations were also directed against him.
“As I understand it, the position of the head of Government is not compatible with any suspicion of integrity or good behavior and certainly not with the suspicion of having committed a crime,” said the 62-year-old. But his conscience is clear. Portuguese police searched several apartments and offices, including Costa’s residence, early in the morning. According to media reports, five people were arrested, including Costa’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria.
Focus on granting concessions for lithium mining
At issue are suspected illegal practices such as bribery and taking advantage of the granting of concessions for lithium mining in Montalegre, as well as the production of “green hydrogen” and the construction of a data center near the city of Sines, the media reported. of Portuguese communication. In addition to the chief of staff, the influential businessman Diogo Lacerda and the mayor of Sines, Nuno Mascarenhas, are also detained, as well as two other businessmen.
Two ministers listed as suspects
40 homes and offices were searched, including the ministries of infrastructure and environment. The Minister of Infrastructure, João Galamba, and the Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro, as well as his predecessor in office, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, are listed as suspects. Formal investigations are also underway against the head of the environmental agency APA.
Largest lithium deposits in Europe
“Green hydrogen” is produced from electricity from renewable energy. Lithium is used to produce batteries and is therefore essential for the energy transition. Portugal probably has the largest lithium deposits in Europe.
In September, environmental authority APA gave the green light, subject to conditions, to a second lithium mining project in northern Portugal. Environmental protection organizations and residents of the affected areas reject the huge mine. Lithium mining is considered extremely dangerous for the environment.
Costa’s name mentioned during interrogation
When interrogating the suspects, corruption investigators were also informed of Costa’s “name and position,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office said. The suspicion against him is the subject of a separate investigation.
Country before new elections
President Rebelo de Sousa can now appoint an interim head of government and dissolve parliament. Then there must be a new election. The result is difficult to predict. Until Tuesday morning, according to polls, Costa was considered the favorite in the next regular legislative elections, which were only scheduled for 2026.
With Costa’s resignation, an almost eight-year success story is suddenly interrupted. In January 2022, Costa and his Socialist Party (PS) obtained an absolute majority in Lisbon’s national parliament, the Assembly of the Republic. Before that, he led left-wing minority governments since late 2015. One of the main reasons for Costa’s electoral success is economic development. Following the euro crisis in the early 2010s, Portugal’s economy grew above the EU average from 2016 onwards due to booming tourism.