Lawyer José Preto, who on Tuesday resigned from the defence of José Sócrates in the Operação Marquês case, insists it makes no sense to appoint a court‑appointed lawyer to replace him.
José Preto, in remarks to Antena 1, says the judge should give the defence reasonable time
Tuesday, 13 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Operation Marquês (Operação Marquês) is a major criminal investigation opened in 2013 into alleged corruption, money laundering and tax crimes involving high-profile figures, including former prime minister José Sócrates, and it led to arrests in 2014. The case has been one of Portugal's largest anti-corruption probes and has influenced public debate about accountability and the justice system.
