Sócrates Fined €2000 in a Week for Wasting Court Time - A Political Drama Unfolds

In less than a week, former Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates has been fined a total of 2040 euros by higher courts for wasting judicial time with what were deemed frivolous appeals. The latest penalty was imposed by the Supreme Court of Justice this Tuesday, following his request to remove the Attorney General of the Republic, Amadeu Guerra, from his case. Sócrates argued that Guerra's public comments on the case were prejudicial, despite Guerra having no direct involvement in the Operation Marquês trial.

The court ruled that the Attorney General's statements did not imply Sócrates had to prove his innocence or limit his defense rights. Consequently, the court fined Sócrates 1020 euros, half the maximum allowed by law for such unfounded claims. This follows a similar fine last week for an attempt to disqualify the judge overseeing his trial.

During the trial's last session before the judicial recess, Sócrates criticized his former party, the PS, and became emotional discussing his family. He accused the Public Ministry of targeting his government's legacy, particularly the Parque Escolar school rehabilitation projects. The session also revisited questions about Sócrates' income sources post-premiership, with him reiterating previously stated explanations involving family financial support and earnings from Octapharma.

Sócrates also denied allegations of interference in the TGV high-speed rail project's awarding process and lamented the project's abandonment by subsequent governments, citing political cowardice for not reviving what he termed his initiative.