the surprise resignation of the Prime Minister plunges the country into a political crisis

Portugal in the midst of a political crisis after the surprise resignation, Tuesday, November 7, of its Prime Minister, Antonio Costa. At the origin of this twist: a case of corruption linked to lithium extraction. Magistrates investigating the suspicious awarding of two recent lithium mining concessions are talking about embezzlement, corruption of political figures and influence peddling. On Tuesday they pulled out all the stops, the police had more than 40 search warrants in hand.

The police even searched the residence of the Prime Minister, who, however, is not directly implicated. His chief of staff and his advisor are among those arrested. Two indictments target the Minister of Infrastructure and the head of the Portuguese environment agency, who had validated the concessions.

These mines arouse so much desire because Portugal is the leading producer of lithium in Europe and still has 60,000 tonnes of reserves. It is a shiny, light and flexible metal, long reserved for the glass and ceramics industry. It is he who gives its luster to porcelain. For around ten years, the promising market for electric vehicles has been turning heads. Dealers are racing to open new mines and produce the essential ingredient for lithium batteries.

Leading figure of European social democracy

AntoNio Costa denies any involvement. However, his name also appears in another case, a green hydrogen production project south of Lisbon. He is suspected of having intervened “to unblock procedures”. Antonio Costanio Costa says he has “with a clear conscience” but as he explained on Tuesday, his resignation was obvious because “the dignity of the functions of Prime Minister is not compatible with any suspicion of his integrity”.

Thursday evening the President of the Republic will address the country, still in shock. Since 2015 Antonio Costanio Costa reigned almost unchallenged. Last year his party even obtained an absolute majority. He had also become the leading figure of European social democracy. It won’t be easy to turn the page. The head of state has only two options: appoint a new socialist head of government or, more likely, organize early legislative elections next year. With the risk of creating a call for air for the extreme right which continues to denounce the corruption of the elites and intends to profit from this scandal.