Overview
- President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa accepted Maria Lúcia Amaral’s resignation at the prime minister’s request after she said she no longer had the political and personal conditions to serve.
- A sustained spell of winter storms has caused flooding, landslides, power outages and significant infrastructure damage across the country.
- Reports count seven direct storm-related deaths and at least six additional fatalities from people falling off roofs while repairing damage.
- Public scrutiny focused on what was seen as a slow government reaction, particularly during Storm Kristin in late January, with another death reported during Storm Leonardo last week.
- Amaral, previously criticized over last summer’s wildfire management, is the first minister to step down since Montenegro’s center-right government took office in May.