Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa stated Tuesday he’s resigning after being concerned in a widespread corruption probe.

Costa stated in a nationally televised handle that “in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic.”

Costa’s stunning announcement got here hours after Portuguese police arrested his chief of workers whereas raiding a number of public buildings and different properties as a part of a widespread corruption probe.

The Supreme Court, the state prosecutor’s workplace stated, was additionally analyzing the suspects’ “use of the prime minister’s name and his involvement to unlock” the practices being probed.

The 62-year-old Costa, Portugal’s Socialist chief since 2015, defended his innocence and teared up whereas thanking his household for his or her help by means of the years.

“I totally trust the justice system,” he said. “I want to say eye to eye to the Portuguese, that my conscience is clear of any illicit or censured act.”

“If there are suspicions, than the judicial authorities are free to look into them … I am not above the law.”

Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is expected to accept Costa’s resignation.

An investigative judge issued arrest warrants for Vítor Escária, Costa’s chief of staff, the mayor of the town of Sines, and three other people because they represented a flight risk and to protect evidence, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

It said that the Minister of Infrastructure João Galamba and the head of the country’s environmental agency were among those named as suspects.

The judge is investigating alleged malfeasance, corruption of elected officials, and influence peddling related to lithium mine concessions near Portugal’s northern border with Spain, and plans for a green hydrogen plant and data center in Sines, on the south coast.

The raids included the premises of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Sines town council, private homes and offices.

The prosecutor’s office said that the probe has determined that the “suspects invoked the name of the prime minister” when finishing up their allegedly illicit actions.

Portugal’s lithium mines and inexperienced hydrogen initiatives are a part of the continent’s inexperienced initiative being pushed by the European Union.

Costa stated that he had no prior indication that he was being scrutinized by authorized authorities.

“This is a section of my life that involves an finish,” he said.

Exciting information! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe in the present day by clicking the hyperlink and keep up to date with the most recent information! Click here!

Get Latest World News together with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.