President calls elections for March // Detainees in investigation released // Cash found hidden in books
Portuguese news in English on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
President calls elections for March
Portugal is going back to the polls on March 10 after the president decided to dissolve parliament to resolve the political crisis brought on by Prime Minister António Costa’s sudden resignation, Diário de Notícias reports. The Assembly of the Republic won’t be dissolved until after the national budget is put to a final vote on November 29 and Costa will remain in his role, although much of that in caretaker mode, until the nation votes. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa made the call after meeting with the Council of State — which remained deadlocked after five hours of meetings — and various political parties, which supported the move for new elections. Marcelo said he made the decision for “innumerable reasons” but highlighted how closely the 2022 election, which delivered the Socialist Party (PS) majority government, was tied to Costa and his own personal leadership and campaigning.
The president rejected the option of installing Bank of Portugal governor Mario Centeno as the government’s leader and stressed the benefits of a new government being legitimised by the popular vote, Público reports. Centeno says Costa invited him to consider the leadership role but he only agreed to “reflect” on it, Reuters reports, in English. The central bank is looking into the matter after claims from opposition parties it called his independence as governor into question. Former minister Pedro Nuno Santos has put his name forward to lead PS to the elections, admitting to past errors but promising to learn from them, Público reports.
Detainees in investigation released
The five detained arguidos (formal suspects) in Operation Influencer, the investigation into alleged corruption and influence-peddling regarding hydrogen and lithium projects that triggered the government’s collapse, have all been released following a court hearing, Público reports. As part of the bail conditions, Vítor Escária, the prime minister's former chief of staff, had to hand over his passport and Costa’s friend Diogo Lacerda Machado had to pay a bond of €150,000. Prosecutors had asked for them both to remain in detention. The judge dropped accusations of corruption and malfeasance but those of influence-peddling remain.
Two other formal suspects detained on suspicions of corrupting the president of the Sines City Council were also released on bonds. Infrastructure Minister João Galamba and the head of the environment agency APA, Nuno Lacasta, were also named formal suspects but not detained. Galamba handed in his resignation on Monday, saying it was the best thing for his family, Público reports. Costa resigned last week after prosecutors announced he was subject to a related investigation.
Cash found hidden in books
Police, the prosecutor and a judge found €75,800 in the office of António Costa’s chief of staff, Vítor Escária, SIC Notícias and Público both report. The money was divided into different envelopes and hidden in books, on different shelves and in boxes of wine inside the COS office in the prime minister’s official residence. Prosecutors alleged Escária wanted to hide the money’s illicit origins in order to reintroduce it into legitimate circulation. The search began as the prime minister addressed the country to announce his resignation. Nothing directly linked to the prime minister was uncovered but digital evidence such as emails and Whatsapp messages will be analysed in coming weeks. Escária’s lawyer said the information had nothing to do with the subject at hand or anything illegal, Diário de Notícias reports.
Costa, in an address to the nation on Saturday night, apologised for the “embarrassment” of the envelopes of cash being found in the office, Diário de Notícias reports. He distanced himself from his former employee, Escária, as well as from Lacerda Machado, who he’d once described as “my best friend”. “Prime ministers don’t have friends,” he said. “And the longer they’re in the role the fewer friends they have.” Costa, who denies any wrongdoing, said he expected the Supreme Court investigation into his conduct to last “a long time”, saying he would likely never return to any form of public office and calling for future governments to be “guaranteed” political freedom.
In brief
Portugal prepares to help 16 people flee Gaza. Foreign affairs minister João Gomes Cravinho said they were working to get six Portuguese people and 10 close relations into Egypt and then back to Portugal. (Lusa)
Doctors to keep striking ahead of elections.Two unions have called for negotiations to resume and signalled they’ll keep refusing extra hours while the government remains in power. (Público)
Higher interest rates have big banks earning €12 million a day. Profits have surged 74.5% compared to last year at Portugal’s five largest banks but the International Monetary Fund and Portugal’s central bank have urged caution regarding distribution of dividends. (Dinheiro Vivo)
On a lighter note
If you’ve ever wanted to see the aurora borealis but don’t fancy the idea of going so far north in winter, there’s another option. Unfortunately, it’s really only available to a few lucky pilots. But luckily, one of them filmed it for us on a recent TAP flight from San Francisco to Lisbon. “When you get the best seat on the plane and the best view on the flight,” TAP said, on X, formerly Twitter.