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Lisbon mayor resigns in preparatin for Portuguese general elections in Autumn

Xinhua, April 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

Portuguese opposition Socialist Party leader Antonio Costa has resigned as Lisbon mayor, obviously in preparation for the upcoming general elections due in Autumn this year, local media reported on Thursday.

"It is my duty now to concentrate, as I did eight years ago, with the same spirit of service, energy and determination, on serving Portugal and the Portuguese," Costa told local media at Lisbon city hall on Wednesday.

He also said that Lisbon Deputy Mayor Fernando Medina will take over his post.

Before his resignation announcement, Costa, the candidate in the general election for the next Portuguese prime minister, on Tuesday said at the end of a municipal assembly meeting that it would be his last presence.

Costa, 53, was elected mayor of Lisbon in July 2007 and re-elected in 2009. Previously he was Minister of Internal Administration from 2005 to 2007 in Jose Socrates government. He was elected as leader of the Socialist Party in September 2014. Endti