José Sócrates has every right to be represented by whoever he sees fit
Lawyer Pedro Barosa explains how the remainder of José Sócrates's trial will unfold following the resignation of lawyer José Preto.
Operation Marquis. Luís Rosa: "The court's decision is lawful"
Lawyer José Preto withdrew from Sócrates's defence because the judge did not suspend the proceedings despite his illness. Luís Rosa, lead writer at Observador, says the court's decision was lawful.
Lawyer José Preto withdraws from José Sócrates's defence
The lawyer had taken on the former prime minister's defence about a month and a half ago, after Pedro Delille abandoned Sócrates's legal representation in the case.
Operation Marquês: José Sócrates's lawyer will remain absent from court
José Sócrates's lawyer will not attend court on Tuesday. José Preto was discharged from Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon on Thursday after a 12-day hospitalisation for pneumonia.
Operation Marquis: Court of Appeal rules that the ancillary case should be tried separately
The decision to split the proceedings stems from the pre-trial instruction order in the main case issued in April 2021 by Judge Ivo Rosa, then at the Central Criminal Court of Instruction.
Court-appointed lawyer for Sócrates refuses to represent him, saying she is a member of Chega and holds views opposed to the former prime minister
The court has already ordered that another court-appointed lawyer be assigned.
New lawyer for Sócrates notified the court he was ill and did not appoint a substitute
The trial has been on hold for nearly two months. The resumption of proceedings is scheduled for this Tuesday, but the judge has not yet decided how to proceed given José Preto's illness.
José Sócrates continues to be the 'star' in a year of high-profile trials
Former prime minister José Sócrates remains the central figure in a year marked by trials that have drawn intense media attention.
