“After the resignation, I did not choose another lawyer. I was not notified to choose a lawyer. Nobody contacted me about this matter, nor did I mandate any other lawyer. With all firmness: it is not the judge who chooses my future lawyer, nor does the judiciary state impose a defender on me,” states José Sócrates in a “brief clarification of circumstances” released today.
On Tuesday, José Sócrates’ lawyer, Pedro Delille, resigned from his position as defense attorney for the former prime minister in the Operação Marquês trial, prompting the court to order the appointment of a public defender to ensure the ex-governor’s defense.
“The most basic right of defense is to freely choose one’s lawyer. The appointment of a public defender, without giving me time to choose another lawyer, is simply a judicial abuse. Consequently, the trial is proceeding without my lawyer present,” asserts the former prime minister in the clarification.
José Sócrates highlights, “for the anthology of the process,” that the public defender appointed by the panel of judges requested 48 hours to review the case, which the presiding judge, Susana Seca, denied, arguing that “the requested period to examine the case, given its size, is manifestly insufficient for the purposes the same invoked.”
“Therefore, being insufficient, it is better that there is no period at all – if forty-eight hours is nothing, it’s better to be nothing. And it was nothing,” emphasizes the former prime minister.
In the clarification, José Sócrates states that Delille’s resignation “was strictly personal,” emphasizing that the choice of words used to explain his decision “leaves no doubt about his motivation.”
“(…) continuing in this trial intolerably violates my conscience as a lawyer and the ethics I impose on myself, my independence, integrity, and professional and personal dignity,” said Pedro Delille to journalists after resigning from the defense of José Sócrates.
Pedro Delille had represented José Sócrates roughly since the former prime minister (2005-2011) was detained at Lisbon airport in November 2014, with public defender José Ramos appointed in his place.
The magistrate also ordered that José Sócrates be informed of the resignation of his legal representative.
Neither Pedro Delille nor José Sócrates attended the Tuesday session at the Lisbon Justice Campus, where the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon is located, with the session proceeding with witness hearings.
José Sócrates, 68, is charged (accused after instruction) with 22 crimes, including three of corruption, for allegedly receiving funds to benefit the Lena Group, Espírito Santo Group (GES), and the Algarve resort of Vale do Lobo in different dossiers.
In total, the case involves 21 defendants, who generally deny committing the 117 economic-financial crimes attributed to them.
The trial has been ongoing since July 3 and has sessions scheduled at least until December 18, 2025.
