As the prime minister who delivered Portugal to the hands of the troika hopes to be spared his third night at the PSP central command in Moscavide, news channels all over the globe continue to report on the allegations of tax fraud, money laundering and corruption that swirl in a muddy vortex around him.
From America’s CNN, to UK’s BBC, in the words of Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã “never before has Portugal featured so highly in international media”.
Spain’s El Mundo – which has been minutely following the case – highlighted the fact that this was a politician seen by many as a “possible candidate to the Presidency of the Republic”.
Today, all chances of that have must have well and truly evaporated. Reports in national press centre on 25 million euros hidden away in a Swiss bank account under his best friend’s name, and numerous murky deals and arrangements, all yet to be proved.
As Observador website stresses, Sócrates is still “not the subject of any accusation in the investigation being undertaken by prosecutor Rosário Teixeira”.
But it is “unthinkable” that a former prime minister could be detained in this way if the authorities did not have grounds on which to interrogate him, affirm commentators.
CM’s news channel CMTV has been leading Portugal’s reports, with RTP surprisingly low-key – embarrassed very possibly by the fact that José Sócrates has been the channel’s regular Sunday evening commentator since April last year.
As writer Francisco José Viegas says in his column “RTP insulted the Portuguese”: “Last night… RTP announced that José Sócrates’ commentary slot was suspended.
“It is scandalous that a public television could have ignored what happened”, he continued.
“Sócrates always wanted to silence the press, suing it and insulting it. Has he managed to silence RTP?”
Indeed Viegas went on to direct his anger at the nation’s channel, suggesting the €18 million it plans to spend capturing broadcasting rights of the UEFA Champions League (see our story: https://www.portugalresident.com/government-opposes-rtp%E2%80%99s-champions-league-bid) is another “scandal”, and a “complete overdose of football” for a public that could be better served with real information.
But back to Sócrates, and the timeline that has appeared since his detention on Friday night as he flew into Portugal from his luxury home in Paris, France.
Sócrates’ nightmare weekend
The former Socialist leader arrived on an Air France plan at Lisbon’s Portela Airport on Friday at 10.45 pm, already well aware that he was walking into the arms of the authorities.
At 11pm his was detained by inspectors of the Autoridade Tributária, magistrates of the Public Ministry and police agents of the PSP.
He was taken by car to the central department of penal action and investigation (DCIAP), where he spent just over two hours.
At 1.19am he was taken by car to COMETLIS, the PSP central command in Moscavide where he spent his first night in a police cell.
The next morning he was driven to his home in Lisbon’s Rua Braamcamp, where police and AT inspectors searched the property for a number of hours.
At 2pm came a communiqué from the Attorney General’s office, confirming that this was an investigation independent of others ongoing – namely the financial scandals Monte Branco and Furação. This was an inquiry into “banking operations and legally suspect movements of money”, reported newspapers.
At 3.15pm more inspectors entered Sócrates’ property, and over an hour later – under heavy police protection – the former Socialist leader left Rua Braamcamp in a cavalcade of vehicles on his way to the nearby Campus de Justiça where he was interviewed by super-judge Carlos Alexandre.
That “hearing” continued late into the night, and is understood to have resumed early this morning after Sócrates spent his second night in police custody.
As we write on Sunday afternoon, José Sócrates is understood to remain at Campus de Justiça, still under interrogation.
Social media alight
Reactions to Sócrates’ shame have set social media alight with the son of Mário Soares – former mayor of Lisbon João Soares – alleging that detention of a former prime minister is an “attempt at humiliation”.
A prime minister should not be imprisoned (under the pretext of ‘detention’) for anything less than a “bloody crime, in which he has been caught red-handed”, wrote Soares on Facebook.
Elsewhere, MEP Edite Estrela (Socialist) suggested Sócrates detention had much to do with deflecting attention from Golden Visas – the latest scandal to rock the PSD-CDS-PP coalition.
Estrela’s comment was met with resounding “Hallelujah” and “About time” thumbs-up commentary.
Socialists rally
But “politics cannot be confused with friendship”, Socialist leader António Costa has been quick to convey to his supporters.
“We have all been shocked by the news of José Sócrates detention”, began a text message Costa is reported to have sent the party faithful. But “sentiments of solidarity and personal friendship cannot confuse the political action of the Socialist Party, which is essential to preserve”, he continued, stressing that Justice now has to be seen to be independant and allowed to follow its course.
Costa’s text was seen as a way of drawing a line in the sand, separating politics from the workings of justice – something many feel is long overdue.
Tomorrow the full extent of charges in this latest scandal may become clearer.
For now, Sócrates’ detention, along with that of three others (lifelong friend Carlos Santos Silva, lawyer Gonçalo Ferreira and driver João Perna), speaks volumes. “From here onwards, the country will be more transparent; Justice stronger, and impunity without safe-conduct”, vows CM deputy director Eduardo Dâmaso.
