Former Prime Minister Antonio Costa was heard yesterday by prosecutors at the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Affairs (DCIAP), “not named as a defendant,” according to a statement from his lawyers. Source associated with the process disclosed CM that the former head of government was questioned by prosecutor Rita Madeira, head of the Operation Influential Man investigation, who showed him recordings of telephone conversations in which he was mentioned as accused in the case. António Costa’s lawyers said in a statement that the former prime minister was “heard as an applicant” following a request he made on April 2 this year. Costa resigned as prime minister in November 2023 after it emerged that he was the target of an investigation following Operation Influencer, a case linked to several investment projects such as a data center in Sines and lithium exploration in Vila Real .