‘Obviously I resigned’: Prime Minister resigns after being targeted in criminal case

Prime Minister António Costa submitted his resignation to the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebel de Sousa, on Tuesday after the Ministry of State (MP) announced that the prime minister was the subject of an independent Supreme Court investigation into lithium projects. and hydrogen.

Antonio Costa spoke to the country and confirmed that he had resigned. “However, I understand that the dignity of the duties of the Prime Minister is incompatible with any suspicion as to his honesty, good behavior, and even less with suspicion of the commission of any criminal act. Obviously, I submitted my resignation to His Excellency the President of the Republic.“, said Antonio Costa.

Asked whether he would reapply, António Costa clarified: “No, I will not reapply for the position of prime minister.”

António Costa said that he was surprised by the information from the press service of the General Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) about the criminal case that has “already been initiated or will be initiated” against him. “I want to say face to face with the Portuguese that the practice of any illegal act or even any reprehensible act does not weigh on my conscience,” he said.

Regarding the reaction of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, António Costa states that the President of the Republic did not question the reasons and “immediately understood them, declaring that he would take the necessary measures.” The President of the Republic convened the parties and the State Council.

“Let me thank the Portuguese people for the opportunity they gave me to lead the country in moments that were as difficult as they were inspiring. I want to thank all the holders of sovereign bodies, the President of the Republic. I would like to thank the autonomous regions, local authorities, for the way we collectively act in favor of our country. To all those who served me in these three governments. Send a word of sympathy and gratitude to all party leaders and leaders, opposition parties and especially the PS. Finally, a very heartfelt thank you to my family, especially my wife, for all their support, affection and the many personal sacrifices she has made over these eight years. This is a stage of life that is coming to an end. and that I will finish with my head held high, with a clear conscience and the same determination to serve Portugal and the Portuguese people just like the day I first walked here as Prime Minister,” said António Costa, who was visibly moved .when he talked about his family.

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR) confirmed that the investigation began after “the suspects learned the name and powers of the Prime Minister and his intervention to unblock procedures.”

This morning the prosecutor’s office conducted searches in several ministries and the official residence of the prime minister.

PGR also confirmed that charges have been brought against João Galamba and the President of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Environment Agency.

17 searches were carried out in houses, 5 searches in the lawyer’s office and home, 20 searches outside the house, namely in the premises used by the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the State Secretariat of Energy and climate, in the Sines City Council, as well as in the headquarters or premises of other public institutions and companies. The PGR statement also clarified that searches of premises used by the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff are supervised by a criminal investigation judge.

The Attorney General’s Office confirms that the searches involved 17 judges from the Ministry of Justice, three judicial magistrates, two representatives of the Bar Association, approximately 145 members of the PSP and nine from the Inland Revenue.

We will talk about malfeasance, active and passive corruption among political officials and influence trading. Lithium exploration concessions are currently being explored for the Romano (Montalegre) and Barroso (Boticas) mines; the project for a hydrogen energy plant in Sines, presented by a consortium that has applied for the status of an important project of common European interest (IPCEI); project for the construction of a “data center” developed in the industrial and logistics zone of Sines by the Start Campus company.

The prosecutor’s office issued arrest warrants for António Costa’s chief of staff, Vitor Escaria, the mayor of Sines, Nuno Mascarenhas, two Start Campus administrators, and a lawyer/consultant hired by the company. The detainees will be present at the first interrogation to learn about coercive measures. The newspaper Público reports that one of those detained is Diogo Lacerda Machado, known as António Costa’s “best friend.” Detainees they will remain in the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis) of the PSP in Moscavida until they are heard.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, received Prime Minister António Costa at the Belém Palace in Lisbon on Tuesday morning at his request, a source in the Presidency of the Republic told Lusa. In the afternoon, António Costa returned to Belém to speak with Marcelo. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes.