Senior Portuguese politicians are suspected of bribery. This involves the granting of concessions for lithium mining in the Montalegre region.
According to media reports, Portuguese police searched the residence of Prime Minister António Costa on Tuesday, as well as two ministries and other buildings. The Public Ministry confirmed this. According to media reports, five people were arrested, including Costa’s chief of staff, Vítor Escaria. Costa himself submitted his resignation shortly afterwards.
He had already canceled appointments for Tuesday and immediately met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Lusa and RTP reported. There were calls from the opposition for Costa to resign and for new elections.
The state news agency Lusa, the state television RTP and other Portuguese media reported that these are suspected illegal practices such as bribery and profiteering in the granting of concessions for lithium mining in Montalegre and the production of so-called green hydrogen in a city of Sines, citing official circles. Prosecutors, police and the government did not immediately respond to requests for more details about the searches.
Exact allegations still unknown
In addition to the chief of staff, influential businessman Diogo Lacerda and the mayor of Sines, Nuno Mascarenhas, as well as two other businessmen were arrested, RTP and Lusa reported. 40 homes and offices were searched, including the ministries of infrastructure and environment. It was initially unknown what exactly the detainees were accused of.
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.
Large lithium deposits in the Montalegre region
The Montalegre region, in the far north of the country, is believed to have the largest lithium deposits in Europe, which will be explored despite great resistance from the local population. The metal is important for battery production. In the city of Sines, south of the capital Lisbon, so-called green hydrogen is expected to be produced in the future through renewable energy in a coal plant that will be closed in 2021. Both projects are important foundations for the progressive elimination of the use of fuels fossils in Portugal. (APA)