Timing seen as crucial as snap election looms in Portugal

LISBON (Reuters) -Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa kicked off talks with the main political parties on Wednesday to decide whether, or how soon, to call a snap election following the abrupt resignation of the Socialist prime minister. Antonio Costa stepped down on Tuesday after prosecutors detained his chief of staff in an investigation into alleged illegalities in his government's handling of lucrative lithium and hydrogen projects and said Costa was the target of a related probe. C

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