Many refer to the former prime minister as 'Engineer,' but José Sócrates is not an engineer, according to the Order of Engineers, which should know and today decided to issue a clarification "because people keep asking."
"In view of the unprecedented number of requests and enquiries that have recently been addressed to this professional association from its members and from members of the public, the Order of Engineers has decided to issue a clarification stating that José Sócrates is not, and never has been, inscribed in the Order of Engineers."
The Order says it is not aware that José Sócrates ever has improperly used the professional title of ‘Engineer’ but realises that he often is referred to as such by third parties.
The former prime minister is listed as a 'civil engineer' under ‘profession’ in his official details still available on the website for the Assembly of the Republic.
According to Wikipedia, Sócrates is licensed in Civil Engineering by the (now defunct) Independent University, but the Order is emphatic that José Sócrates is not registered and is not permitted to act as an engineer.
The Order of Engineers will now, as is its obligation, contact the Assembly of the Republic to point out the erroneous listing on its website.
The professional association has no reason to take action against José Sócrates, it is not aware that he has ever misused the professional title of Engineer in violation of the statutes, but that third parties are at fault if they continue to refer to him as an Engineer.
José Sócrates responded, stating this evening that the news about his title of Engineer "is only understandable as part of the current campaign of slander" against him.
He also says that he never used any professional title that does not belong to him, adding that he had became "a technical engineer at ISEC in 1979" and has been awarded a degree in "civil engineering degree from the Independent University in 1996", but he never applied to join the Order of Engineers since 1987.
"The title of engineer with which I am addressed does not concern my professional activity but my academic qualification", clarifies Sócrates, stressing that he never used it and that the fuss created by the Order of Engineers is abusive.