The president of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Souza announced this afternoon that it has accepted the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who has been embroiled in a corruption scandal.

Costa tendered his resignation and de Souza accepted it. He then convened for tomorrow Wednesday a meeting of the parties represented in the parliament, in view of the announcement of early elections, as stated in the announcement issued by the presidency.

On Thursday the State Council will meet for the same reason.

In order to dissolve parliament and call elections, the president must first, based on the Constitution, listen to the opinion of the party representatives and then convene the Council of State, which includes high-ranking political officials, former presidents and other personalities, appointed by the same.

The president “will address the nation” immediately after this Council meets, the presidency added.

The scandal that prompted Costa to resign concerns, according to prosecutors, “suspicions of misuse of public money, corruption and undue influence” in the context of approving contracts for lithium mining and hydrogen production.

“The duties of prime minister are incompatible with any suspicion that would weigh on my integrity,” Costa told reporters earlier in announcing his resignation.