In a surprising turn of events, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced his resignation on Tuesday following a corruption investigation that implicated his chief of staff and one of his ministers. The investigation, known as 'Operation Influencer', took a shocking twist when the Public Prosecutor's Office reportedly confused the name of Prime Minister António Costa with that of Economy Minister António Costa Silva in the wiretap transcripts.

According to the lawyer representing one of the defendants in the case, the error was detected during questioning, leading the prosecutors to acknowledge their mistake. Nevertheless, Costa, a member of the Socialist party who has been at the helm of Portugal since 2015, made the swift decision to step down after a major police raid on Tuesday resulting in the arrest of his chief of staff and four other individuals. Additionally, one of his ministers has been named as a suspect in the corruption scandal.

Prime Minister Costa, who emerged victorious in a landslide election just last year, wasted no time in addressing the nation. While maintaining his innocence, Costa expressed his inability to continue serving as the prime minister and announced that he will remain in office as a caretaker until new elections are held in March.

The investigation, led by an investigative judge, has shed light on alleged malfeasance, corruption of elected officials, and influence peddling. The focus of the investigation revolves around lithium mine concessions near Portugal's northern border with Spain, as well as plans for a green hydrogen plant and data center in Sines, located on the south coast of Portugal.

The sudden downfall of Prime Minister Antonio Costa has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Portugal. As the country prepares for new elections in March, the nation will undoubtedly be closely following the developments of this corruption investigation and its impact on the future leadership of the country.

Copyright Armando Franca/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.