Portuguese Defence Minister resigns

The Portuguese Defence Minister, José Azeredo Lopes, has submitted his resignation the Prime minister, from his position in the government, this Friday.

The resignation is said to be connected with the case known as “Tancos”, a case of stolen weaponry that involved the Investigative Military Police (PJM) and the National Guard (GNR), where coronel Vasco de Brazão, the main suspect, during the interrogation, said that the Minister of Defence had been informed on the issue, and thus allegedly had covered up information.

Many have claimed that the resignation is already coming late, given the severity of the issue.

The minister keeps his claim that he was not aware of any information about the operation which would result in the theft of the weapons from the magazine of the Armed Forces, and he said he waited until now so that he would not interrupt the process of negotiations for the State Budget of 2019.

A source from the Ministry of Defence has told news agency Lusa that the resignation had been accepted already by the Prime-Minister, António Costa.

Up until now, three ministers have resigned: Culture Minister João Soares, and the Interior Minister, Constança Urbano de Sousa. However, 15 elements have already left the team the prime minister had chosen to stand beside him.