António Costa

Costa resigned on 7 November 2023 following searches and arrests in an investigation into lithium, hydrogen and data centre projects. The wider investigation continued into 2026 without Costa personally being charged.

State of the evidence

resignation, investigation and procedural developments documented

Legal status — source text

Costa was not charged in the case that led to his resignation; a separate file (certidão) in which he was heard as a witness was closed in 2025

Attribution

personal responsibility for the political decision to resign; no unestablished offence attributed

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is a witness

Several judicial and institutional criticisms questioned the wording, evidence or investigative steps in an inquiry that had brought down the government. The Portuguese Ombudsman expressed concern.

State of the evidence

institutional criticisms and procedural decisions documented

Legal status — source text

countervailing findings favourable to Costa; no personal conviction

Attribution

event retained as essential countervailing evidence, not as wrongdoing

Following a violent incident at the Infrastructure Ministry and the recovery of a computer by the SIS, João Galamba offered his resignation. Costa refused it, apologised to the country and assumed full responsibility for his decision, prompting a public disagreement with the President.

State of the evidence

incident, involvement of SIS, proposed resignation and Costa's refusal documented

Legal status — source text

no personal illegality by Costa established; the SIS operational decision is not automatically attributable to him

Attribution

direct political responsibility for retaining Galamba

The Mais Habitação programme provoked strong opposition, particularly over the compulsory rental (arrendamento coercivo) of vacant homes and restrictions on new short-term accommodation (alojamento local) licences.

State of the evidence

government measures and significant political controversy documented

Legal status — source text

political and constitutional controversy; no personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

direct political responsibility as Prime Minister defending the package

Media outlets identified more than twenty family relationships among government members, ministerial offices and state institutions under Costa. The opposition denounced a problem of nepotism and cronyism.

State of the evidence

family connections and parliamentary debate documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal offence established; ethical controversy

Attribution

political responsibility as head of government and appointing authority for some positions

The Pedrógão Grande fires and subsequent October fires caused more than one hundred deaths and triggered a major crisis over state prevention and response. Costa acknowledged failures, apologised and accepted his Interior Minister's resignation.

State of the evidence

deaths, reports, debates, apologies and resignations documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal liability of Costa established

Attribution

political responsibility as Prime Minister; operational failings not personally attributed