Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigns over corruption probe

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced his resignation on Tuesday (Nov 7) amidst a probe that was launched into plausible peculiarities perpetrated by his majority Socialist administration in managing lithium mining and hydrogen projects in the country.

He announced his decision in a televised address after a meeting with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

"The duties of prime minister are not compatible with any suspicion of my integrity," Costa told a press conference.

"In these circumstances, I have presented my resignation to the president of the Republic," he added.

The investigation involving Costa and others alleged "misuse of funds, active and passive corruption by political figures, and influence peddling," according to a statement from public prosecutors.

Portugal's head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa accepted Costa's resignation further calling for a meeting of parliamentary parties on Wednesday (Nov 8) in a bid to organise an early election, said a statement from the Portuguese presidency as per news agency AFP reports.

"The President of the Republic will address the nation immediately after the meeting of the Council of State," the statement added.

Earlier on Tuesday (Nov 7), Portuguese media had said that the probe was underway during which the investigators had scoured offices as well as the official residence of Costa.

Later on, the public prosecutors said that they had indicted Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba and issued an arrest warrant for Costa's chief of staff.

(With inputs from agencies)