Former Socialist Prime Minister José Sócrates, released from jail last September and currently on bail, is the guest speaker at the debate "Politics, Justice and Indifference" taking place on January 9th in Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve.
The session will be moderated by the Mayor of Vila Real de Santo António, Luís Gomes, and aims to discuss the question of justice, the courts and the new approaches to contribute to the functioning of institutions.
During the debate, José Sócrates will be keen to discuss his recent legal problems, his arrest and subsequent accusation of involvement in fraud, money laundering and tax evasion as well as other issues related to justice and national policy.
For mayor Luís Gomes, the invitation to include José Sócrates is highly relevant to the discussion as his is the case with the highest profile and media exposure in Portuguese history, whose “contours and dimensions are the subject of daily analysis and discussion."
The debate aims to assess at first hand some of the alleged weaknesses that government agencies, the judiciary and the media have displayed when dealing with the Sócrates case.
"In short, we want to create a forum where guests and the public may question and debate structural issues in the rule of law, which are far from generating consensus," said Luis Gomes, fully aware that the questions most likely to be asked will centre on Sócrates' alleged criminal and fraudulent activities, his amazing ability to amass a personal fortune when working in public life, the family offshore trusts containing hundreds of millions of euros which he denies are anything to do with him and the financial relationship with his childhood friend whose muilti-million fortune is said to have been boosted during the time Sócrates was in power and from whcih he was supported until his arrest.
The initiative is open to all and aims to be a 'forum of ideas and to disseminate different perspectives and new approaches to policy and justice' but inevitably will end up as a Sócrates forum for explaining his innocence.
Auditorium Location:
Auditorium Glória Football Club
Rua Dom Pedro V, Number 47
8900 Vila Real de Santo António
GPS Coordinates: 37.193322, -7.416609
For more information contact:
Office of Social and Communication Protocol
Vila Real de Santo António council
www.cm-vrsa.pt
Mobile. 910890020
Tel. 281 510 008
Fax. 281 510 003
