Early elections in Portugal: Resignation of Prime Minister Antonio Costa
Portuguese politics is rocked by a major political crisis as Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced his resignation following an investigation into alleged corruption. This decision resulted in the calling of early elections which will be held on March 10, 2024, according to the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Antonio Costa’s resignation comes following his involvement in a corruption affair which has already led to the indictment of his Minister of Infrastructure and the arrest of his chief of staff. The accusations relate to suspicions of “corruption” and “influence peddling” in the awarding of concessions for the extraction of lithium and the production of green hydrogen.
Faced with this crisis, the President of Portugal decided to call early legislative elections, thus allowing the country to overcome the crisis and ensure the essential economic and social stability. This decision was welcomed by the right, who believe that it is necessary to give the Portuguese a voice in order to restore confidence in democratic institutions.
However, the Socialists regret this decision and would have preferred to avoid elections by proposing a new Prime Minister who would govern with the majority they have had in Parliament since 2022. Antonio Costa proposed the name of Mario Centeno, current governor of the Bank of Portugal and former Minister of Finance, but the president considered it too fragile as a solution.
In an international context of uncertainty, the country is therefore preparing for early elections which will take place in four months. This period will also allow the government to adopt the state budget for next year, thus ensuring the economic and social stability of the country.
The resignation of Antonio Costa and the organization of early elections therefore mark a major turning point in Portuguese politics. The coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the country and restoring citizens’ confidence in their democratic institutions. It remains to be seen which political party will be able to convince voters of its ability to overcome the crisis and lead Portugal towards a better future.