Portuguese prime minister resigns after being caught up in corruption probe

Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa has resigned (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa says he has offered his resignation after his government was involved in a widespread corruption inquiry, sending a shockwave through the normally tranquil politics of the European Union member.

The 62-year-old, Portugal’s Socialist leader since 2015, asserted his innocence but said in a nationally televised address that “in these circumstances, obviously, I have presented my resignation to the president of the republic”.