Portuguese prime minister announces resignation amid corruption allegations

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced on Tuesday afternoon that he will resign amid corruption allegations.

“The dignity of the Prime Minister’s office is not compatible with any suspicion regarding his integrity,” he said in a televised speech.

Earlier Tuesday, police raided dozens of locations as part of a far-reaching corruption investigation, including the prime minister’s office and government ministries.

While members of Costa’s inner circle were reportedly detained, the Attorney General’s Office also named the prime minister as a suspect.

Claiming he leaves with a “clear conscience” and was “surprised” by the information, Costa said he is willing to “cooperate with justice.”

The attorney general’s statement said the raids are tied to an investigation into potential malfeasance, corruption and influence peddling related to lithium, hydrogen and data center concessions.

In 2022, Costa and his Socialist Party won a surprise majority and were set to govern for the full four-year term.

Costa has been prime minister of Portugal since 2015. Prior to that, he was mayor of Lisbon.

In his speech, Costa said Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had accepted his resignation and will now have to decide when to dissolve parliament.

In a statement, the president’s office said Rebelo de Sousa will hold consultations throughout Tuesday and Wednesday and address the country when they conclude.