Portuguese PM quits on corruption charge

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned as investigators detained his chief of staff, Vitor Escaria, and a business consultant considered close to Costa. The investigators searched his official residence. Costa was not named in the investigation.

The charges related to lithium mining and use of hydrogen for energy. Costa said after submitting his resignation to the president: “The dignity of the functions of prime minister is not compatible with any suspicion about his integrity, his good conduct and even less with the suspicion of. the practice of any criminal act. “ President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had accepted Costa’s resignation.

The situation in Portugal is noteworthy. The investigators were inquiring into possible corruption of those in the prime minister’s office and those close to him. Costa has far not been named or any charges made against him as yet. Costa is confident that he has nothing to fear. He said, “There is no illicit act that weighs on my conscience, or even any act that is subject to censure.” Costa has set an enviable example of how the leader of a country should be above suspicion, and even if there is suspicion of corruption, that warrants resignation.

The Portuguese investigators seem to be in early stages of digging out a corruption case, and there is as yet nothing more definitive than suspicion. With the unearthing of the corruption case, the Portuguese 20-share index, PSI, fell three per cent as the investigation story broke out, and Costa offered his resignation at the first hint of a scandal. He said he was surprised by the investigation, but he promised to cooperate with the investigators.

Acts of idealism like that of Costa will in the long term strengthen democratic traditions in the court. Without doubt, the outgoing prime minister was well aware that he was setting up a precedent through his resignation. This is indeed the way of building democratic traditions in the country. The country had been ruled by a dictator, Salazar, for over a quarter of a century. The democratic traditions are still in the process of being created. Costa seems to have decided that it is important to set an example through his resignation.

Political scandals involving the top leaders have almost become a norm on the continent. Former French President Nikolas Sarkozy had been facing corruption charges and he has been indicted. Sarkozy however had not shown much penitence. He remained defiant. In contrast to Sarkozy, Costa has taken a position which is very different. The general perception is that politicians and corruption are twins, and where there is one, the other is bound to be there as well. But Costa appears to be keen to break the chain of corruption through his resignation. He also said, “I’m not going to run again to be prime minister. It is a stage of my life that is finished.” He has been prime minister since 2015, and he got re-elected in 2022 with an absolute majority for his socialist party.

It might seem that Portugal is not as powerful a country in Europe as some of its northern neighbour, and what happens in the country would not have much impact outside Portugal. On the face of it, it does appear that the investigators’ fearless pursuit of a case of those occupying key positions is admirable. And Costa’s resignation complements the work done by investigators.

The scandal might leave a scar on Portuguese politics, but it will boost the spirit of democracy in the country. And it would remain a shining example for the rest of Europe. Portugal might go through a difficult phase of uncertainty and turbulence in the wake of the investigations and the resignation of Costa as prime minister. But it will come through with greater faith in democracy and the rule of law. And the fact that this is happening in Portugal, in the southern corner of the continent, will not take away from its importance and the precedent set by Costa.