José Sócrates returned to court on Thursday as part of Operation Marquês. The former prime minister was once again heard in the process investigating crimes of corruption, tax fraud, and money laundering allegedly committed during his term in office.
During the hearing, Sócrates accused the court of cowardice. The former government official considered it cowardly for the court to judge a person with dementia, referring to someone whose mental health condition was presented as a defense in the case.
Sócrates also addressed the name of Ricardo Salgado, former chairman of Banco Espírito Santo. The former prime minister mentioned the banker's name in the context of his statements in court.
Operation Marquês is a complex case involving several dozen defendants and has been ongoing for several years. Sócrates is suspected of having received illicit payments while serving as prime minister between 2005 and 2011.
