The President of the Republic will hear the parties this Wednesday about the possible dissolution

The President of the Republic will hear from the eight parties with seats in parliament this Wednesday and then will hear from the Council of State on Thursday about the possible dissolution of parliament following the resignation of the prime minister.

According to a message published on the official website of the President of the Republic on the Internet, the parties will be heard “after the resignation of the Prime Minister and, in particular, also in accordance with the provisions of paragraph e) of Article 133 of the Constitutional Law.” Constitution”.

This constitutional norm establishes that the President of the Republic has the right to dissolve the Assembly of the Republic after consultation with the parties represented there and the Council of State.

The head of state will receive the parties at the Belém Palace in ascending order of parliamentary representation – Livre, PAN, BE, PCP, Liberal Initiative, Chega, PSD and PS – in meetings scheduled from 11:00 to 19:00. : 00.

Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said that he would “speak to the country immediately after the State Council meeting.”

The Council of State was convened “in accordance with Article 145, subparagraph a) and subparagraph e) of the second part” of the Constitution, according to the terms of which this body is responsible for “deciding on the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic.” “, but also “in general to advise the President of the Republic in the performance of his functions.”

In the current legislature, which has an absolute majority in the PS, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that the possible departure of António Costa would lead to the dissolution of parliament, which would rule out the formation of another executive body with the same majority.

António Costa resigned as prime minister to the president of the republic on Tuesday after the state ministry announced it was the target of an independent Supreme Court investigation into the lithium and hydrogen projects.

Declaring himself with his “head held high” and his “clear conscience”, he, however, defended that “the dignity of the duties of the Prime Minister is incompatible with any suspicion as to his honesty, his good behavior and, still less, with the suspicion of committing any criminal act.”

On Tuesday, government offices, including the official residence of São Bento, were raided, targeting the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria, who was detained for questioning.

António Costa resigned after almost eight years as Prime Minister, a position he was sworn into on November 26, 2015 by the then President of the Republic, Aníbal Cavaco Silva.