The Lisbon court has set July 3 as the date for the trial of former Prime Minister José Sócrates, who faces charges of fraud and corruption.
The 67-year-old Sócrates is accused of 22 charges, including money laundering, document forgery, and corruption, related to his tenure in office from 2005 to 2011.
The court in the Portuguese capital announced the trial date after a meeting with judges and lawyers, which also involved around 20 other defendants—businessmen accused of financial crimes.
In a statement sent to Portuguese media, Sócrates argued that his case “is still under investigation” and, therefore, the trial “cannot take place.”
José Sócrates led the Socialist Party to victory in the 2005 elections, securing the first-ever absolute majority in parliament. However, his popularity plummeted during the financial crisis, leading Portugal to accept a 78 billion euro bailout with stringent conditions from the EU and the International Monetary Fund in May 2011.
Following his defeat in the 2011 elections, Sócrates resigned as leader of the Socialist Party and relocated to Paris.
