Almost certainly the first former Portuguese prime minister held in jail for nine months without formal charges, José Sócrates is now tipped to become the first “arguido” held under house arrest with a police guard to be allowed to vote.
If he takes up the option, it will be “unprecedented”, agreed a spokesman for the national elections commission – very possibly requiring the drafting in of “extra security”, adds Diário de Notícias.
But for now, the former Socialist Party leader “has not yet communicated to the judge” of criminal instruction (Carlos Alexandre) whether he wants to vote or not when the country goes to the polls on October 4.
Meantime, the electorate is already aware that Sócrates has declared his support for current Socialist leader António Costa, but the rest is shrouded in what has become habitual mystery.
With Sábado magazine claiming that Sócrates may face further accusations – on top of those said to centre on money-laundering, corruption and fiscal fraud – it is anyone’s guess what is coming next.
Sábado has alluded to “sexual favours” – the payment of which is “in the eye of the public ministry”, while today’s Correio da Manhã suggests the former PM is having a close possibly romantic relationship with a former press officer for the Socialist ministry for Public Works.
Fifty-year-old Lígia Correia is described as a face that can be found “practically every day” at Sócrates’ new address in Rua Abade Faria.
