Portugal's political landscape has been shaken by a series of events following Prime Minister Antonio Costa's resignation amidst a corruption probe. The latest development came today when President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refuted claims that he had extended an invitation to Bank of Portugal Governor Mario Centeno to consider leading the government.
The controversy began last Tuesday when Prime Minister Costa stepped down and suggested Centeno as his successor, in an attempt to avoid early elections. However, President Rebelo de Sousa proceeded with the announcement of an early election set for March 10.
On Saturday, it was revealed that Centeno had not responded to Costa's proposal. Moreover, the Bank of Portugal's ethics commission decided to review Centeno's conduct following his nomination. The center-right party PSD, which is the main opposition, saw Costa's proposal as a sign of Centeno's compromised independence.
By Sunday, Centeno admitted to the Financial Times that he had received invitations from both the president and the resigning prime minister to think about taking the helm of the government. Despite these revelations, he indicated that he was far from reaching a decision.
The sequence of events has culminated in today's denial by President Rebelo de Sousa, who clarified that he did not invite Centeno nor authorize any such invitation. This denial adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding political drama in Portugal and sets the stage for a potentially tumultuous run-up to the March elections.
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