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Sócrates refuses court-appointed lawyer and accuses court of 'unprecedented violence': 'I don't deserve this'
Politics

Sócrates refuses court-appointed lawyer and accuses court of 'unprecedented violence': 'I don't deserve this'

Expresso15 September 2026 at 13:33

On his second day back at court, José Sócrates once again confronted Judge Susana Seca. The former prime minister does not accept the court-appointed lawyer assigned to him and claims he cannot find a lawyer willing to defend him without a "reasonable" deadline to study the case.

Sócrates accused the court of exercising "unprecedented" violence and stated that he does not deserve this situation. During the hearing, he directly confronted the judge with the phrase: "If you think I'm going to surrender to your dictates, you are very mistaken, Your Honor."

The case involves the former socialist leader who is subject to judicial proceedings, having returned to court to continue the legal procedures. The tension between Sócrates and the judge has been a constant in the sessions, with the former prime minister resisting the court's decisions regarding his defense.

Why this matters

This case is relevant for Portuguese readers because it involves José Sócrates, a highly prominent political figure in Portugal, and his judicial process that has been ongoing for years. The way the court manages the defense of an accused person without a chosen lawyer can have implications for the administration of justice and for public perception of the Portuguese judicial system's functioning.

About this summary

This is our short summary of a report published by Expresso on 15 September 2026 at 13:33; the full text stays with the publisher. In our feed it sits under Politics. We currently carry 30382 items in that section.

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