Former Prime Minister José Sócrates arrived at the Justice Campus in Lisbon on Wednesday morning. “It seems the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) might speak today. Perhaps for the first time in 12 years, they can present evidence supporting their claims,” he stated.
When asked about the tension with Judge Susana Seca, who repeatedly advised the former Prime Minister to moderate his tone during yesterday’s session, Sócrates expressed confusion. “I don’t understand why it bothers her that I demonstrate in court all the proofs of the falsehood of the PPO’s claims, because that shouldn’t trouble the court,” he noted, adding, “I proved that all the accusations were false.”
Regarding whether he will moderate his tone, he assured that he would do “the best to ensure that the sessions proceed smoothly.” “I don’t want to hinder the court’s understanding. I want the court to be completely enlightened,” he affirmed.
The former Prime Minister also stated, “I think we had a very enlightening session yesterday.”
Today marks the second consecutive day that José Sócrates will give statements in the third session of the Operation Marquês trial.
Public Prosecutor Strike
The third session of the Operation Marquês trial coincides with the beginning of the Public Prosecutor’s strike. According to reports, the team of three prosecutors exclusively working on the Operation Marquês trial (Rómulo Mateus, Nadine Xarope, and Rui Real) has assured that the trial will proceed. Even if any prosecutor strikes, there will be at least one PPO representative in the courtroom.
The prosecutors are observing the first of two days of a national strike against the annual competition among public prosecutors, which they argue is the “final nail” in their functional specialization.
The issue involves the announcement of the Public Prosecutors’ Office movement, published on June 4 in the Diário da República, which includes positions to be filled by prosecutors, from September, in various departments and courts simultaneously.
Operation Marquês Trial
Eleven years after José Sócrates’ arrest at Lisbon airport, the Operation Marquês trial began last Thursday, involving the former Prime Minister and 20 other defendants, with over 650 witnesses. The case concerns 117 crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud, faced by the 21 defendants. Currently, 53 sessions are scheduled to last until the end of this year, with more to be scheduled later. During this trial, 225 witnesses summoned by the PPO and approximately 20 by the defense of each of the 21 defendants will be heard.
[News in development]
