Portugal interior minister resigns over 'golden visas' probe

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Portugal's Interior Minister Miguel Macedo resigned on Sunday (Nov 16), three days after top officials were detained in a corruption probe linked to "golden visas" for wealthy foreign investors.

Several senior government officials, including the head of the border service, were arrested after police raids on dozens of premises on Thursday.

This also includes the interior and environment ministries and offices linked to the justice ministry.

Macedo, 55, who had been in the job since 2011, said he "had no personal responsibility" in the case but his "political authority" had been weakened by the scandal.

In televised comments, he said he had quit to "defend the government and the authority of the state and the credibility of its institutions."

Portuguese police made a total of 11 arrests in Thursday's raids on charges including corruption, money laundering and influence peddling in connection with the visa scheme.

Portugal launched the "golden visa" scheme in 2012 while grappling with a debt crisis.