Portuguese prime minister resigns after corruption probe

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Portuguese prosecutors on Tuesday detained five people in connection with an investigation into how Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s administration handled lithium mining and hydrogen production projects. Costa stepped down hours after officials detained his chief of staff while raiding public offices and numerous other buildings, including 17 homes. Prosecutors are investigating alleged corruption and influence peddling. Authorities named the country’s infrastructure minister and president of the environmental agency as suspects. Costa said he has not been named as a suspect, but he pledged to cooperate with the investigation.

What happens now? Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa must decide whether to allow the majority Socialist party to form a new government or to call an election. Parliament had been scheduled to vote on the country’s 2024 budget this month.

Dig deeper: Read Todd Vician’s report in WORLD Magazine about a new lithium reserve discovered in Nevada.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.