Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on the key events and statements:
Legal Proceedings and Fines:
Defendant’s Actions: The defendant (implied to be José Sócrates) made two procedural requests:
One to send a case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) without raising suspicion of limiting defense rights or presumption of innocence.
Another, identical request from the previous week, to remove the judge presiding over his trial, also intending to send it to the CJEU.
Court’s response: in both instances, the courts refused to send the appeals to the CJEU.
Consequences: For the second request (removing the judge), the judges imposed a fine of 1020 euros, which is half the maximum allowed. The previous identical request also cost him the same amount.
José Sócrates’ Statements and Criticisms:
Criticism of Former Party: In the last session before the judicial vacation, José Sócrates was critical of his former party (implied to be the Socialist Party).
Accusations against Prosecutors: He accused the prosecutor of aiming to destroy “all the emblems” of his government, specifically mentioning the rehabilitation of former high schools operated by the school park endeavors.
Explanation of Income: When questioned about the origin of his income, he reiterated his previous explanations:
A 150,000 euro loan from Caixa Geral de Depósitos to study in Paris and support his children’s education. 450,000 euros from his mother, who sold his apartment.
Payments from Octapharma, initially 12,500 euros per month, then 25,000 euros.
Source of Wealth: He asserted that his fortune was inherited from his mother, who received it from his grandfather and uncle, totaling over one million escudos (equivalent to five million euros).
Denial of Interference: He denied interfering with the delivery of the first TGV section (Poceirão to Caia) to a consortium that included the Lena group. He also denied arranging business for building social housing in Venezuela in exchange for millions of euros.
Lament over high-Speed Rail Project: He expressed regret that subsequent prime ministers had abandoned the high-speed rail project. He criticized the Passos Coelho government for “cabling” it and the António Costa government for “total political cowardice” in doing nothing.
Key Themes:
Legal Maneuvers: The text highlights the defendant’s attempts to use procedural requests and appeal to the CJEU, which were consistently rejected by the courts.
Financial Explanations: A importent portion of the text is dedicated to Sócrates’ defense of his financial dealings and the origin of his wealth.
Political Criticism: Sócrates uses the court sessions to voice his criticisms of past and present governments, particularly regarding infrastructure projects. Personal Touches: He mentions his mother and brother, and his voice becomes emotional when speaking of their deaths.
In essence, the text describes a legal battle where the defendant is facing accusations and employing legal strategies, while also using the public platform of the court to express his political views and defend his personal integrity.
