The Goan origin Portugal prime minister Antonio Costa has resigned amid corruption investigation in the lithium deal probe.
It may be recalled that the prosecutors had a few hours ago arrested Costa’s chief of staff and named Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba as a formal suspect in a corruption probe.
The PM announced his decision of resigning in a televised interview that was aired on local Portugal channels.
The Opposition has pounced on to the opportunity and has demanded that the Government steps down immediately. The green hydrogen plant and lithium mines are part of a green initiative backed by the European Union. In addition to Costa’s chief of staff, arrest warrants were also issued for the mayor of the town of Sines and two executives at the company Start Campus, tasked with building the hydrogen production project and data centre.
62 year-old PM Costa has been a socialist leader for last 15 years in Portugal and is a Goan origin.
