Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday amid an investigation into alleged irregularities committed by his socialist-majority administration in the management of lithium and hydrogen mining projects in the country.
Costa announced the decision in a televised statement after meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. He said he had a clear conscience.
"In these circumstances, obviously, I submitted my resignation to His Excellency the President of the Republic," said the Socialist, who pointed out that the position of prime minister is not compatible with the "suspicion of the practice of any criminal act."
Earlier on Tuesday, prosecutors named Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba a formal suspect and arrested Costa's chief of staff. The opposition has demanded that the government step down with immediate effect.
- Portugal