Sócrates had a lawyer before the session. By lunchtime, he had two others (one with official power of attorney and another court-appointed). In the afternoon, a fourth had to be called. Problem solved? Not exactly.
How was it possible for Sócrates to have four lawyers in a single day?
Tuesday, 17 March 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.
