José Sócrates Expresses Disgust Over Ricardo Salgado's Trial Amid Alzheimer's Battle in Operation Marquês

Operation Marquês Trial Resumes with José Sócrates' Testimony

The high-profile Operation Marquês trial has restarted after the summer judicial break, with former Prime Minister José Sócrates taking the stand for his fifth day of declarations. The session began at 10 AM, focusing on allegations of corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud.

Sócrates Criticizes Trial of Salgado

In a dramatic moment, Sócrates expressed deep repulsion over the trial of former banker Ricardo Salgado, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Despite the judge's initial reluctance, Sócrates was allowed a brief statement, where he denounced the court for judging someone "who cannot defend themselves." This comes after Salgado's defense filed a request to dismiss the case based on his "accompanied adult" status, granted by the Cascais Court due to his total dependency.

Allegations of Manipulation in TGV Tender

Sócrates addressed the tender for the high-speed train (TGV) project, emphasizing that his government dismissed José Luís Ribeiro dos Santos from the Rede Ferroviária de Alta Velocidade (RAVE) in December 2005. He claimed this fact was omitted from the accusation and labeled the allegations of influencing his cabinet as a "fiction story" and "absurd." Sócrates insisted that Ribeiro dos Santos was removed from a position where he could easily manipulate public tenders, specifically favoring the Lena Group consortium.

New Developments and Defense Strategies

Before the trial resumed, Sócrates arrived at the Justice Campus in Lisbon, reiterating that the process is a "sham" and accusing the Public Prosecutor's Office of lacking evidence. He hinted at having "new information" to present regarding the TGV accusations. Additionally, multiple appeals were filed during the break, including one from Sócrates challenging the nullity of the ruling that revived most charges against him, initially archived by Judge Ivo Rosa.

Broader Implications and Other Defendants

The trial involves 21 crimes attributed to Salgado, including corruption and money laundering. Other defendants, such as Henrique Granadeiro and Armando Vara, are also contesting jurisdictional issues and the principle of natural judge. The session is expected to continue with Sócrates answering questions about alleged kickbacks from the Lena Group and the origins of his income.

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