Government reshuffle on the cards after PS loses Lisbon

The Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa is likely to reshuffle his Council of Ministers after the ruling PS socialist party lost Lisbon in the municipal elections on Sunday despite saying on Tuesday that he had no intention of rearranging the government.

Political pundits have been speculating that the outgoing mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina could be given a ministerial post, while the current minister for the Economy, Pedro Siza Vieira may be appointed deputy prime minister.
Existing ministers that could exit the government include the controversial minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita – he was in a speeding ministerial car that killed a 43-year-old man -, Justice minister, Francisca Van Dunem, Science, Technology and Higher Education, Manuel Heitor, Culture, Graça Fonseca, and Sea, Ricardo Serrão Santos.
However, the case involving information supplied by Lisbon City Council to the Russian Embassy on anti-Putin activists may well mean that the former mayor could end up being a hot potato for the Costa government.
After the reshuffle the government is expected to be a much tighter ship as several ministers and secretaries of State are said to have asked to leave because of exhaustion or because they want to resume their careers.