Former Prime Minister José Socrates on Tuesday criticized his successor Pedro Passos Coelho’s statements regarding the sacking of António Costa and said he was abandoning political attacks “disguised” as analysis.
On Tuesday, former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho considered the dismissal of António Costa after the Operation Influential Man process to be due to “indecent and bad character” and called for political change in the next legislative elections.
“Spare me the political attack disguised as reflection. It has nothing to do with analysis. Let’s see who looked bad in a few months. Be it the prime minister, the public ministry or the opposition,” Socrates said.
José Socrates spoke to reporters before entering Lisbon’s Central Criminal Court to testify as a witness in the EDP case.
Former Minister of Economy (2005 to 2009) Manuel Piño, under house arrest since December 2021, is on trial on charges of passive corruption for an unlawful act, passive corruption, money laundering and the crime of tax fraud.
His wife Alexandra Pinho will stand trial for money laundering and tax fraud (co-authored with her husband), while former BES President Ricardo Salgado will stand trial for the crime of active participation. corruption for an unlawful act, the crime of active corruption and other money laundering crime.
The investigation, initially related to the electric utility company’s management and alleged services, began in 2012 due to contract maintenance costs (CMEC).
It was about allegations of corruption and economic involvement in business by former administrators António Mexía and Manso Neto in order to maintain an excessive rent contract, in which, according to the Ministry of State (MP), they bribed former minister Manuel Pinho.
However, in December 2022, the deputy eventually split the trials, focusing on suspicions of corruption and money laundering from the Group Espirito Santo (GES) against Manuel Pinho, Alexandra Pinho and Ricardo Salgado.
Author: morning Post This Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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