The Prime Minister stated today that he spoke with Mário Centeno, governor of Banco Portugal, about the possibility of succeeding him as leader of a new executive, without early elections, with the knowledge of the President of the Republic.
António Costa spoke to journalists in São Bento, at a press conference, after being asked what basis he had for probing Mário Centeno about the possibility of heading a socialist government, after he himself had already presented his resignation to the head of state. of the functions of prime minister.
The leader of the executive noted that Mário Centeno would only give a definitive answer about his availability to succeed him in leadership of the executive after “a definitive conversation” that the governor of the Bank of Portugal would have with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and a decision by the executive bodies. leadership of the PS, a party that still has an absolute majority in parliament.
Regarding the reasons for this step, António Costa explained: «My concern was to provide the President of the Republic with an alternative to placing the country, three years before the end of a legislature, dissolving a parliament and going back to a process electoral".
«The world is experiencing countless uncertainties, conflicts and the economic situation. I understood that there was a need to find alternatives that would avoid dissolving the Assembly of the Republic. Therefore, I spoke to the President of the Republic and acted with the knowledge of the President of the Republic», he emphasized.
Portugal will have early legislative elections on March 10, 2024, scheduled by the President of the Republic, following the resignation of the prime minister on Tuesday.
António Costa is the target of an investigation by the Public Ministry at the Supreme Court of Justice, after suspects in a case related to business involving lithium, green hydrogen and a data center in Sines invoked his name as having intervened to unblock procedures.
The Public Ministry (MP) considers that the Prime Minister intervened in the approval of a diploma favorable to the interests of the company Start Campus, responsible for the data center, according to the indictment, which contains several other references to António Costa.
On the day of his dismissal, Costa refused to commit “any illicit or objectionable act”.
According to the MP, crimes of malfeasance, active and passive corruption of political office holders and influence peddling may be at stake in the lithium, green hydrogen and data center business process.
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