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António Costa barred from accessing operation Influencer case

Former Prime Minister António Costa accuses the Public Ministry of violating the rule of law after being denied access to a misconduct inquiry.

2 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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António Costa barred from accessing operation Influencer case — Photo: Arne Müseler · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Former Prime Minister António Costa is being investigated by the Public Ministry in the case known as operation Influencer, related to suspicions of misconduct. According to information from Expresso, the judicial secrecy on this inquiry was lifted in March 2026, but Costa still cannot access the case documents.

Prosecutor Rita Madeira has rejected António Costa’s request to consult the case documentation for the sixth time, prompting the former government leader to criticize the actions of the Public Ministry. Costa described this denial of access as an attack on the rule of law.

This situation has raised concerns among Costa's defense, which believes that the lack of access to the case files hampers his ability to defend himself adequately. Despite no longer being under judicial secrecy, the limitation on access to the documents remains a point of contention.

Archive photo: António Costa barred from accessing operation Influencer case — Archive photoPhoto: Junta Informa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Meanwhile, there is no information regarding the constitution of an accused party against the former Prime Minister in the case. According to the prosecutor, the legislation allows such procedures, justifying her refusal to grant access.

Costa, who currently serves as President of the European Council, expressed his outrage, stating that the Public Ministry is undermining due legal process. The tension between him and the public institution has been increasing.

In addition to this case, Portugal recently defeated Denmark in a football match with a score of 4-2, solidifying its position at the top of the standings.

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