Content deleted Content added
Lack of substance of corruption claims |
|||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Prime Minister of Portugal from 2005 to 2011}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{portuguese name|Carvalho|Pinto de Sousa}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = José Sócrates
| honorific-suffix = [[Order of Infante D. Henrique|GCIH]]
| image = Socrates2006-2.jpg
| office = [[Prime Minister of Portugal]]<!-- Please do not add his order, it is against WP:MOS, unused and clutter, only exception is the President of the United States. -->
| president = [[Jorge Sampaio]]<br />[[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]]
| term_start = 12 March 2005
| term_end = 21 June 2011
| predecessor = [[Pedro Santana Lopes]]
| successor = [[Pedro Passos Coelho]]
| office2 = [[Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (Portugal)|Secretary-General of the Socialist Party]]
| term_start2 = 27 September 2004
| term_end2 = 23 July 2011
| president2 = [[António de Almeida Santos]]
| predecessor2 = [[Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues]]
| successor2 = [[António José Seguro]]
| office4 = [[Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications|Minister of Social Infrastructure]]
| term_start4 = 23 January 2002
| term_end4 = 6 April 2002
| primeminister4 = [[António Guterres]]
| predecessor4 = [[Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues]]
| successor4 = Luís Valente de Oliveira
| office5 = [[Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning|Minister of the Environment]]
| primeminister5 = [[António Guterres]]
| term_start5 = 25 October 1999
| term_end5 = 6 April 2002
| predecessor5 = [[Elisa Ferreira]]
| successor5 = [[Isaltino Morais]]
| office6 = [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister]]
| term_start6 = 25 November 1997
| term_end6 = 25 October 1999
| primeminister6 = [[António Guterres]]
| predecessor6 = Jorge Coelho
| successor6 = [[Armando Vara]]
| office7 = [[Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning|Secretary of State Assistant to the Minister of the Environment]]
| primeminister7 = [[António Guterres]]
| term_start7 = 30 October 1995
| term_end7 = 25 November 1997
| predecessor7 = Joaquim Poças Martins<br />António Taveira da Silva
| successor7 = José Guerreiro
| office8 = {{MP PT}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parlamento.pt/DeputadoGP/Paginas/Biografia.aspx?BID=285|title=José Sócrates, Assembleia da República}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parlamento.pt/Parlamento/Paginas/dias-democracia-art4.aspx|title=As legislaturas da Assembleia da República}}</ref>
| term_start8 = 13 August 1987
| term_end8 = 22 June 2011
| constituency8 = [[Castelo Branco (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Castelo Branco]]
| birth_name = José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|9|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Vilar de Maçada]], [[Alijó]], [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Portugal]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]<br />{{small|(2018–present)}}
| spouse = Sofia Costa Pinto Fava {{small|(Divorced)}}
| children = 2
| alma_mater = [[Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra]]<br />Lusíada University<br />[[Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon]]<br />[[Independente University]]<br />[[ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon|University Institute of Lisbon]]
| signature = Jose Socrates signature.svg
| caption = Sócrates in 2006
| otherparty = [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]]<br />{{small|(1974–1981)}}<br />[[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]]<br />{{small|(1981–2018)}}
}}
'''José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa''' {{Post-nominals|list=[[Order of Prince Henry|GCIH]]}} (born 6 September 1957), commonly known as '''José Sócrates''' ({{IPA|pt-PT|ʒuˈzɛ ˈsɔkɾɐtɨʃ|lang}}), is a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] politician who was the [[prime minister of Portugal]] from 12 March 2005 to 21 June 2011. For the second half of 2007, he acted as [[President of the European Council|president-in-office of the Council of the European Union]].
Sócrates
In opposition, José Sócrates was elected leader of the Socialist Party in [[2004 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election|2004]] and led the party to its first absolute majority in the [[2005 Portuguese legislative election|2005 election]]. By then, Portugal was experiencing an economic crisis, marked by stagnation and a difficult state of public finances. Like the preceding centre-right government, Sócrates implemented a policy of fiscal austerity and structural reforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.publico.pt/2005/06/09/politica/noticia/socialistas-procuram-digerir-medidas-de-austeridade-anunciadas-pelo-governo-1225357 |title=Socialistas procuram digerir medidas de austeridade anunciadas pelo Governo |last=Augusto Moreira |first=José |date=9 June 2005 |newspaper=Público |language=pt |trans-title=Socialists try to digest the austerity measures announced by the government |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cambon |first=Diane |date=27 June 2008 |title=Budget, impôts, retraite : la leçon d'austérité du Portugal |trans-title=Budget, taxes, reforms: Portugal's lesson of austerity |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/2008/06/27/04001-20080627ARTFIG00357-budget-impots-retraite-la-lecon-d-austerite-du-portugal.php |language=fr |newspaper=Le Figaro |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> Among the most important reforms were the 2007 Social Security reform and the 2009 labour law reform.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/portugal/europa/reforma-da-seguranca-social-aprovada-na-generalidade |title=Reforma da Segurança Social aprovada na generalidade |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 November 2006 |publisher=TVI24 |language=pt |trans-title=Social Security reform approved at first reading |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cardoso |first1=Daniel |last2=Branco |first2=Rui |date=March 2017 |title=Labour Market Reforms and the Crisis in Portugal: No change, U-Turn or New Departure? |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313376708 |journal=IPRI Working Paper 56/2017 |pages=8–9 |doi=10.23906/wp56/2017 |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> His government also restructured the provision of public services, closing thousands of elementary schools<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.dn.pt/portugal/interior/socrates-era-criminoso-nao-encerrar-escolas-1586489.html |title=Sócrates: 'Era criminoso' não encerrar escolas |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=5 June 2010 |newspaper=Diário de Notícias |language=pt |trans-title=Sócrates: 'It would be criminal' to not close schools |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> and dozens of health care facilities and maternity wards in rural areas and small cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvi24.iol.pt/sociedade/centro-de-saude/46-centros-de-saude-com-horarios-alterados |title=46 centros de saúde com horários alterados |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2 January 2009 |publisher=TVI24 |language=pt |trans-title=46 primary care centres with changed timetables |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://cabodostrabalhos.ces.uc.pt/pdf/17_Ana_Raquel_Matos.pdf |title='De longe se faz 'parto'!' Os movimentos de protesto sobre o encerramento de maternidades em Portugal enquanto modalidade legítima de participação cidadã nas decisões políticas |last=Matos |first=Ana Raquel |date=2010 |publisher=University of Coimbra |language=pt |trans-title='From far, it's done the delivery!' The movements of protest against the closure of maternity hospitals and wards in Portugal as a legitimate mode of civic participation in policymaking |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> Despite austerity, Sócrates' government intended to boost economic growth through government-sponsored investments, namely in transportation, technology and energy as well as in health and school infrastructure. The government launched several [[public–private partnership]]s to finance such projects. Internally, Sócrates was accused of having an authoritarian style and of trying to control media,<ref name="Publico">{{cite news |last=Gomes |first=Margarida |date=22 November 2014 |title=José Sócrates: uma carreira cheia de suspeitas |trans-title=José Sócrates: a career full of suspicions |url=https://www.publico.pt/2014/11/22/politica/noticia/jose-socrates-uma-carreira-cheia-de-suspeitas-1677178 |access-date=24 August 2018 |newspaper=Público |language=pt}}</ref> while internationally he completed the negotiations of [[Lisbon Treaty]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.publico.pt/2007/07/12/mundo/noticia/socrates-quer-lisboa-no-nome-do-tratado-europeu-1299208 |title=Sócrates quer Lisboa no nome do tratado europeu |last=Arriaga e Cunha |first=Isabel |date=12 July 2007 |newspaper=Público |language=pt |trans-title=Sócrates wants Lisbon in the name of the European treaty |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> and had close ties with leaders such as the prime minister of Spain [[José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/actualidade/zapatero-e-o-meu-melhor-amigo-na-europa=f220631#gs.dI47y=M |title=Zapatero é o meu melhor amigo na Europa |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=19 January 2008 |publisher=Expresso |language=pt |trans-title=Zapatero is my best friend in Europe |access-date=24 August 2018 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002643/https://expresso.sapo.pt/actualidade/zapatero-e-o-meu-melhor-amigo-na-europa=f220631#gs.dI47y=M |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the president of Venezuela [[Hugo Chavez]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jn.pt/mundo/interior/chavez-e-o-bom-amigo-socrates-2976493.html |title=Chávez e o 'bom amigo' Sócrates |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 March 2013 |publisher=Jornal de Notícias |language=pt |trans-title=Chavez and his 'good friend' Sócrates |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> The first Sócrates government was initially able to reduce the budget deficit<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.publico.pt/2008/03/26/economia/noticia/defice-ao-valor-mais-baixo-dos-ultimos-30-anos-1323730 |title=Défice ao valor mais baixo dos últimos 30 anos |date=26 March 2008 |newspaper=Público |language=pt |trans-title=Lowest deficit in 30 years |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> and controlling public debt,<ref name="public debt to GDP ratio">{{cite web |url=https://www.pordata.pt/Portugal/Administra%C3%A7%C3%B5es+P%C3%BAblicas+d%C3%ADvida+bruta+em+percentagem+do+PIB-2786 |title=Administrações Públicas: dívida bruta em % do PIB |publisher=Pordata |language=pt |trans-title=Government: public debt as share of GDP |access-date=24 August 2018 |archive-date=23 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923143344/https://www.pordata.pt/Portugal/Administra%C3%A7%C3%B5es%20P%C3%BAblicas%20d%C3%ADvida%20bruta%20em%20percentagem%20do%20PIB-2786 |url-status=dead }}</ref> but economic growth lagged.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.economist.com/europe/2007/04/12/a-new-sick-man-of-europe |title=A new sick man of Europe |date=12 April 2007 |newspaper=The Economist|access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref>
In 2008–09, with the [[Great Recession]] starting to hit Portugal and facing recession and high unemployment,<ref name="Sovereign debt crisis" /> austerity was waned as part of the [[2008 European Union stimulus plan|European economic stimulus plan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/financas-publicas/detalhe/2009-o-procedimento-que-ensombra-o-pais-ha-oito-anos |title=2009: O procedimento que ensombra o país há oito anos |last=Peres Jorge |first=Rui |date=30 May 2017 |publisher=Jornal de Negócios |language=pt |trans-title=2009: the procedure that haunts the country for eight years |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> Nevertheless, support for Sócrates and the Socialists eroded and the ruling party lost its majority in the [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|2009 election]].<ref name="Sovereign debt crisis">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Portugal/Sovereign-debt-crisis |title=Portugal > Sovereign debt crisis |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref> The second government of José Sócrates faced a deterioration of the economic and financial state of the country, with skyrocketing deficit and growing debt.<ref name="Sovereign debt crisis" /> Austerity was resumed in 2010 while the country entered a [[2010–14 Portuguese financial crisis|hard financial crisis]] in the context of the [[European debt crisis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/detalhe/soacutecrates_daacute_primeira_entrevista_apoacutes_aprovaccedilatildeo_do_pacote_de_austeridade |title=Sócrates dá primeira entrevista após aprovação do pacote de austeridade |date=17 May 2010 |publisher=Jornal de Negócios |language=pt |trans-title=Sócrates gives first interview following approval of the austerity package |access-date=24 August 2018 }}</ref>
On 23 March 2011, Sócrates submitted his resignation to President [[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]] after the Parliament rejected a new austerity package (the fourth in a year), leading to the [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|2011 snap election]]. Financial status of the country deteriorated and on 6 April Sócrates caretaker government requested a bail-out program which was conceded. The €78 billion [[Economic Adjustment Programme for Portugal|IMF/European Union bailout to Portugal]] thus started and would last until May 2014. Sócrates lost the snap election held on 5 June 2011 and resigned as Secretary-General of the Socialist Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1870979 |title=Socrates demite-se |newspaper=Diário de Notícias |language=pt |date=5 June 2011 |access-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928001427/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1870979 |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> For most of his political career, Sócrates was associated with several corruption cases, notably Independente University and Freeport cases.<ref name="Publico" />
On 21 November 2014 he was arrested in Lisbon, accused of [[corruption]], [[tax evasion]], and [[money laundering]], becoming the first former Prime Minister in the history of the country to be thus accused.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/portuguese-ex-pm-socrates/1487490.html |title=Portuguese ex-PM Socrates held in fraud inquiry: Official |publisher=Channel new Asia |date=22 November 2014 |access-date=22 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129113307/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/portuguese-ex-pm-socrates/1487490.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30160193|title=Portugal ex-PM Jose Socrates held in tax fraud inquiry|publisher=BBC News|date=22 November 2014|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/portugals-former-prime-minister-is-questioned-in-corruption-probe-1416778255?mod=bbc_europe|title=Portugal's Former Prime Minister Is Questioned in Corruption Probe|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=23 November 2014|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> On 24 November Sócrates was remanded in custody on preliminary charges of corruption and tax fraud.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-corruption-socrates-idUKKCN0J828520141124|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109013323/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-corruption-socrates-idUKKCN0J828520141124|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2016|title=Portugal ex-PM charged with corruption, to remain in custody|work=Reuters|___location=UK|date=24 November 2014|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/former-portugal-pm-held-on-corruption-and-fraud-charges-1.2014147|title=Former Portugal PM held on corruption and fraud charges|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=25 November 2014|access-date=18 December 2014}}</ref> He was held in [[Évora]] prison until 4 September 2015 when he left the prison for a relative's house in Lisbon, where he remained under house arrest until 16 October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsf.pt/PaginaInicial/Portugal/Interior.aspx?content_id=4259172|title=José Sócrates está detido em Évora|publisher=TSF|date=25 November 2014|access-date=18 December 2014|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/04/former-portugal-pm-socrates-leave-jail-for-house-arrest/|title=Former Portugal PM Socrates leaves jail for house arrest|publisher=Euronwes|date=5 September 2014|access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> That day, a judge released him from house arrest, allowing him to await the end of the investigation in freedom, although remaining forbidden from leaving the country or contacting other suspects of the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-16-Socrates-libertado|title=Sócrates libertado|publisher=Expresso|date=16 October 2015|access-date=10 January 2016|language=pt|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183838/http://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-16-Socrates-libertado|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsf.pt/sociedade/justica/interior/jose-socrates-e-santos-silva-libertados-4838698.html|title=José Sócrates e Santos Silva libertados|publisher=TSF|date=16 October 2015|access-date=10 January 2016|language=pt}}</ref> The police investigation, known as ''Operation Marquis'' continued until his indictment in October 2017. In 2018, Sócrates abandoned the Socialist Party.
==Biography==
===Early years===
José Sócrates was born in [[Porto]] on 6 September 1957, and was registered as a newborn in [[Vilar de Maçada]], [[Alijó]] municipality, in northeastern Portugal, since the locality was his family ancestral homeland. However, the young José Sócrates lived throughout his childhood and teen years with his father, a divorced [[building designer]], in the city of [[Covilhã]], [[Beiras e Serra da Estrela]], in central inland Portugal, in the [[Centro region]]. His parents are Fernando Pinto de Sousa ([[Vilar de Maçada]], [[Alijó]], 15 November 1926 – [[Porto]], 18 July 2011)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1915211 |title=Morreu o pai de José Sócrates |newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]] |date=18 July 2011 |access-date=5 January 2015 |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105034720/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=1915211 |archive-date=5 January 2015 }}</ref> and wife and remote relative Maria Adelaide de Carvalho Monteiro (b. Vilar de Maçada, Alijó, 8 October 1931). He had two younger siblings, António Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, born circa 1962, died in 2011, and Ana Maria Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, died in 1988. He is a descendant of the illegitimate daughter of António José Girão Teixeira Lobo Barbosa (Porto, [[Sé (Porto)|Sé]], 9 January 1715 – Alijó, Vilar de Maçada), [[Fidalgo]] of the [[Royal Household]] and [[Knight]] of the [[Order of Christ (Portugal)|Order of Christ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=312711 |title=José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa in a Portuguese genealogical website |publisher=Geneall.net |date=15 November 1926 |access-date=26 March 2011}}</ref>
===Education===
José Sócrates studied in [[Covilhã]]'s basic and secondary schools, until the age of 18. Then, in 1975, he went to [[Coimbra]] in order to attend a higher education institution. He earned in 1979 his 4-year ''bacharelato''<ref>The Portuguese ''bacharelato'' degree awarded by polytechnical institutions or its predecessors, was not a bachelor's degree – it was one step below. Only the ''licenciatura'' degree was equal to the bachelor's degree. (See [[Higher education in Portugal]] for details)</ref> degree as a civil [[technical engineer]] from the ''[[Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra]]'' (in 1988 incorporated into the ''[[Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra]]''). From 1987 to 1993, he took law classes at ''Universidade Lusíada'', a private university in Lisbon, but failed to graduate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publico.clix.pt/shownews.asp?id=1291082&idCanal=21 |title=Sócrates estudou Direito na Universidade Lusíada |language=pt |publisher=Publico.clix.pt |access-date=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419124422/http://publico.clix.pt/shownews.asp?id=1291082&idCanal=21 |archive-date=19 April 2007 }}</ref> In 1994/95, already a well-known politician, he briefly attended the ''[[Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa]]'' where he completed some academic disciplines in order to get a [[Higher education in Portugal#History of the polytechnic subsector|CESE diploma]] (a complementary diploma to his ''bacharelato'' degree because until 1999 the [[polytechnic (Portugal)|polytechnic]] institutions did not offer [[Licentiate (degree)#Portugal|''licenciatura'' degrees]]), but instead, under circumstances which would provoke a [[José Sócrates#Sócrates–Independente affair|controversy in 2007]], he earned in 1996 the ''licenciatura'' ([[Licentiate (degree)|licentiate]] degree) in civil engineering from the ''[[Universidade Independente]]'', a private university in [[Lisbon]] which was shut down by Portuguese authorities in 2007/2008.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.publico.clix.pt/shownews.asp?id=1289019 |title=Há falhas no dossier de José Sócrates na Universidade Independente |language=pt |publisher=Publico.clix.pt |access-date=26 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329193334/http://www.publico.clix.pt/shownews.asp?id=1289019 |archive-date=29 March 2007 }}</ref> He also has an MBA degree awarded in 2005 by ISCTE, a public [[university institute]] in Lisbon, that he obtained after had attended successfully the first year of a 2-year master's degree program of ISCTE that he did not complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director do Público admite "confusão" no caso do MBA de José Sócrates |publisher=Sol |language=pt |date=3 April 2007 |url=http://canais.sol.pt/paginainicial/sociedade/interior.aspx?content_id=28094 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419005312/http://canais.sol.pt/paginainicial/sociedade/interior.aspx?content_id=28094 |archive-date=19 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After his tenure as prime minister of Portugal ended in 2011, Sócrates and his elder son, moved to Paris where Sócrates attended the [[SciencesPo|Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris]] (known as [[SciencesPo]]).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sócrates vai viver para Paris e estudar filosofia |language=pt |newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]] |date=10 June 2011 |url=https://www.dn.pt/dossiers/tv-e-media/revistas-de-imprensa/noticias/interior/socrates-vai-viver-para-paris-e-estudar-filosofia-1875263.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101145150/https://www.dn.pt/dossiers/tv-e-media/revistas-de-imprensa/noticias/interior/socrates-vai-viver-para-paris-e-estudar-filosofia-1875263.html |archive-date=1 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, SciencesPo awarded him his master's degree in political science.<ref name="Rosa-1">{{Cite news|last=Rosa |first=Luis |date=9 October 2015 |title=Sócrates conseguiu mestrado depois de comprovar conhecimentos em inglês |language=pt |newspaper=Observador |url=http://observador.pt/2015/10/09/socrates-conseguiu-mestrado-comprovar-conhecimentos-ingles/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015180843/http://observador.pt/2015/10/09/socrates-conseguiu-mestrado-comprovar-conhecimentos-ingles/ |archive-date=15 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> His 2013 book ''Confiança do Mundo – Sobre a Tortura Em Democracia''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sócrates |first=José |year=2013 |title=Confiança do Mundo – Sobre a Tortura Em Democracia |language=pt |___location=Lisbon |publisher=Verbo |isbn=978-972-22-3100-8}}</ref> was based on his masters thesis there;<ref name="Rosa-1" /> however, there was some dispute as to its authorship.<ref>{{Cite news|title=José Sócrates não terá escrito o livro 'A Confiança no Mundo' |language=pt |date=27 March 2015 |newspaper=Sábado |url=http://www.sabado.pt/portugal/politica/detalhe/jose-socrates-nao-tera-escrito-o-livro-a-confianca-no-mundo- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012171459/http://www.sabado.pt/portugal/politica/detalhe/jose-socrates-nao-tera-escrito-o-livro-a-confianca-no-mundo- |archive-date=12 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=José Sócrates garante ser o verdadeiro autor do livro "A Confiança no Mundo" |language=pt |date=27 March 2015 |newspaper=Negócios |url=https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/jose_socrates_garante_ser_o_verdadeiro_autor_do_livro_a_confianca_no_mundo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012172041/http://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/economia/politica/detalhe/jose_socrates_garante_ser_o_verdadeiro_autor_do_livro_a_confianca_no_mundo |archive-date=12 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Political career===
José Sócrates was one of the founders of JSD (the youth branch of PSD – [[Portuguese Social Democratic Party]]) before changing his political affiliation and applying for membership in the PS – [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Portuguese Socialist Party]]. He has been a member of the Socialist Party since 1981. José Sócrates served as a technical engineer for the [[Covilhã]] City Council, and has been elected a member of the Portuguese Parliament since 1987, representing the [[Castelo Branco (Assembly of the Republic constituency)|Castelo Branco]] electoral district. While serving as the chairperson of the Castelo Branco Federation of the Socialist Party (1983–1996), he was elected to the Party's National Secretariat in 1991. José Sócrates was ousted by the Board of the [[Guarda Municipality, Portugal|Guarda Municipality]] in 1990 and 1991, after being warned several times because of poor quality of construction projects and lack of monitoring of the construction works. Sócrates was threatened with disciplinary action for wrongdoings in the technical direction of particular works of whose projects he was the author, but despite being ousted from this capacity, he was never penalized. In addition, as a [[Member of the Parliament]], Sócrates was not allowed by law to work as a [[technical engineer]] between 1987 and 1991.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} José António Cerejo, [http://www.publico.pt/Política/socrates-assinou-21-projectos-de-casas-quando-era-exclusivo-na-ar_1430777 Sócrates assinou 21 projectos de casas quando era exclusivo na AR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316045501/http://www.publico.pt/Pol%C3%ADtica/socrates-assinou-21-projectos-de-casas-quando-era-exclusivo-na-ar_1430777 |date=16 March 2012 }}, [[Público (newspaper)|Público]] (5 April 2010)</ref> From 1989 to 1996, he served as a member of the Covilhã Municipal Assembly. He served as spokesperson on environmental affairs for the Socialist Party from 1991 to 1995. In 1995, he entered government as secretary of state for Environment in the first government of [[António Guterres]]. Two years later, Sócrates became Minister for Youth and Sports and was one of the organizers of the [[EURO 2004]] cup in Portugal. He became Minister for Environment in Guterres' second government in 1999. Following the elections of 2002 (won by [[José Manuel Durão Barroso]]), Sócrates became a member of the opposition in the [[Portuguese Parliament]]. Meanwhile, he also had a program of political analysis, hosted jointly with [[Pedro Santana Lopes]] on [[Radiotelevisão Portuguesa|RTP]]. After the resignation of [[Ferro Rodrigues]] as party leader in 2004, he won [[2004 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election|a bid]] for the post of secretary-general against [[Manuel Alegre]] and [[João Soares (politician)|João Soares]], winning the vote of nearly 80% of party members on 24 September 2004. After the victory of his party in the [[2005 Portuguese legislative election|2005 legislative election]], Sócrates was called on 24 February by President [[Jorge Sampaio]] to form a new government – the [[XVII Constitutional Government of Portugal|XVII Constitutional Government]]. After the [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|2009 legislative election]], held on 27 September 2009, José Sócrates was elected for a second term as prime minister of Portugal. He was also a Member of the [[Portuguese Council of State]] as the prime minister.
===Personal life===
==== Family and residence ====
Sócrates is divorced from Sofia Costa Pinto Fava,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geneall.net/P/per_page.php?id=312712 |title=Sofia Costa Pinto Fava in a Portuguese genealogical website |publisher=Geneall.net |access-date=26 March 2011}}</ref> an engineer, with whom he has two sons, José Miguel Fava Pinto de Sousa (b. 1993) and Eduardo Fava Pinto de Sousa (b. 1995). Sofia is a daughter of José Manuel Carvalho Fava, an architect, and Clotilde Mesquita (daughter of Armando Mesquita and Palmira da Costa Pinto), engineer and sister of Alexandre Mesquita Carvalho Fava and Mara Mesquita Carvalho Fava.
Sócrates lives in Lisbon, although he used to be a registered elector of the municipality of [[Covilhã]], the place where he voted until the law was changed (since after the mid-2000s every person votes in one's residential area). Since late 2018, he has been living in [[Ericeira]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google apanha José Sócrates na Ericeira |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/sociedade/detalhe/google-apanha-jose-socrates-na-ericeira |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=www.cmjornal.pt |language=pt-PT}}</ref>
====Health and well-being====
José Sócrates had photos of himself taken during his morning [[jogging|jog]] at places like the [[Red Square]] in Moscow, Rio de Janeiro's [[Copacabana (Rio de Janeiro)|Copacabana]], [[Luanda]], and [[Lisbon]]. In January 2008, a smoking ban came into force in Portugal's public buildings and on public transport, but Sócrates was reported to have been smoking in May during a private state flight to [[Venezuela]] where he met [[Hugo Chávez]]. He has since admitted it was a mistake, apologized and promised to quit smoking. In addition, he claimed he was not aware he was breaking the law when he did so.<ref>João Marcelino [https://dn.sapo.pt/2008/05/15/editorial/o_e_o_exemplos_dados_jose_socrates.html O mau e o bom exemplos dados por José Sócrates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305224745/http://dn.sapo.pt/2008/05/15/editorial/o_e_o_exemplos_dados_jose_socrates.html |date=5 March 2009 }}, ''[[Diário de Notícias]]'', 15 May 2008</ref> However, by 2012, after he had left the spotlight, the Portuguese newspaper ''Diário de Notícias'' reported he was no longer a non-smoker.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130416134040/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/pessoas/interior.aspx?content_id=2595228 José Sócrates de férias almoça em hotel de Lisboa], ''[[Diário de Notícias]]'' (6 June 2012)</ref>
==== Fandom ====
He is a supporter of [[S.L. Benfica|SL Benfica]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=José Sócrates não esconde: "Vou torcer pelo Benfica" |url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/futebol-nacional/jose-socrates-nao-esconde-vou-torcer-pelo-benfica-1524684.html/ |access-date=2024-03-03 |website=Diário de Notícias |language=pt}}</ref>
==Prime minister of Portugal==
After the [[2005 Portuguese legislative election|Portuguese legislative election of 2005]], Sócrates was called on 24 February by President [[Jorge Sampaio]] to form a new government. Sócrates and his first government – the [[XVII Constitutional Government of Portugal|XVII Constitutional Government]] – took office on 12 March 2005.
After the [[2009 Portuguese legislative election|Portuguese legislative election of 2009]], held on 27 September 2009, José Sócrates was elected for a second term as [[prime minister of Portugal]]. The [[XVIII Constitutional Government of Portugal|new government]] was sworn into office on 26 October 2009.
On 5 June 2011, after the [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|2011 legislative election]], the [[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|Social Democratic Party]] led by [[Pedro Passos Coelho]] won, forcing Sócrates' resignation as Secretary-General of the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]] and as prime minister of Portugal.
===José Sócrates' cabinet===
Sócrates headed the government beginning on 12 March 2005, comprising the XVII and XVIII ''Governos Constitucionais'' (17th and 18th Constitutional Governments).
====Membership====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#ccc;"|Ministry
! style="background:#ccc;"|Incumbent
! style="background:#ccc;"|Term
|-
| rowspan=2|State and Internal Administration
| [[António Costa]]
| 13 March 2005 – 17 May 2007
|-
| [[Rui Pereira]]
| 17 May 2007 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|State and Foreign Affairs
| [[Diogo Freitas do Amaral]]
| 13 March 2005 – 3 July 2006
|-
| [[Luís Amado]]
| 3 July 2006 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|State and Finances
| [[Luís Campos e Cunha]]
| 13 March – 21 July 2005
|-
| [[Fernando Teixeira dos Santos]]
| 21 July 2005 – 21 June 2011
|-
| Presidency
| [[Pedro Silva Pereira]]
| 13 March 2005 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=3|National Defence
| [[Luís Amado]]
| 13 March 2005 – 3 July 2006
|-
| [[Nuno Severiano Teixeira]]
| 3 July 2006 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Augusto Santos Silva]]
| 2 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Justice
| [[Alberto Costa (Portuguese politician)|Alberto Costa]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Alberto Martins]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Environment
| [[Francisco Nunes Correia]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Dulce Álvaro Pássaro]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=3|Economy, Innovation and Development
| [[Manuel Pinho]]
| 13 March 2005 – 2 July 2009
|-
| [[Fernando Teixeira dos Santos]]
| 2 July – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[José Vieira da Silva]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Agriculture
| [[Jaime Silva (Portugal)|Jaime Silva]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[António Soares Serrano]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Public Works and Communications
| [[Mário Lino]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[António Augusto Mendonça]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Labour and Social Solidarity
| [[José Vieira da Silva]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Maria Helena André]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Health
| [[António Correia de Campos]]
| 13 March 2005 – 30 January 2008
|-
| [[Ana Jorge]]
| 30 January 2008 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Education
| [[Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Isabel Alçada]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| Science, Technology and High Education
| [[Mariano Gago]]
| 13 March 2005 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=3|Culture
| [[Isabel Pires de Lima]]
| 13 March 2005 – 30 January 2008
|-
| [[José António Pinto Ribeiro]]
| 30 January 2008 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Gabriela Canavilhas]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|-
| rowspan=2|Parliamentary Affairs
| [[Augusto Santos Silva]]
| 13 March 2005 – 26 October 2009
|-
| [[Jorge Lacão]]
| 26 October 2009 – 21 June 2011
|}
====Major policies====
=====Administrative reforms=====
[[File:Dilma Rousseff and Jose Socrates 2011.JPG|thumb|José Sócrates and [[President of Brazil|President]] [[Dilma Rousseff]] in 2011]]
The XVII ''Governo Constitucional'' government, headed by Prime Minister José Sócrates, tried to create new rules and implement reforms aiming at better efficiency and rationalized resource allocation in the [[public sector]], fighting civil servant overcapacity (''excedentários'') and reducing bureaucracy for both citizens and companies (e.g.: ''empresa na hora'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.empresanahora.pt/ |title=Empresa na Hora |publisher=Empresanahora.pt |date=29 September 2006 |access-date=26 March 2011}}</ref> ''PRACE – Programa de Reestruturação da Administração Central do Estado'',<ref>[http://www.portugal.gov.pt/NR/rdonlyres/0A6DEBBD-BE35-4C4C-91CA-27BCF76E142A/0/Modelo_PRACE.pdf PRACE] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926034403/http://www.portugal.gov.pt/NR/rdonlyres/0A6DEBBD-BE35-4C4C-91CA-27BCF76E142A/0/Modelo_PRACE.pdf |date=26 September 2007 }}</ref> and SIMPLEX – Programa de Simplificação Administrativa e Legislativa),<ref>[http://www.ucma.gov.pt/simplex/ Simplex] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713151050/http://www.ucma.gov.pt/simplex/ |date=13 July 2007 }}</ref> among others. Since the XVII ''Governo Constitucional'' government (with José Sócrates as prime minister and [[Teixeira dos Santos]] as minister of finance) Portugal's fiscal policy improved with a steady increase of the number of taxpayers and the growth of the receipt amount from State taxation. However these policies had little effect, and the country's public debt and deficit were both out of control by 2010, along with a record high unemployment rate. João Bilhim directed in 2005 the committee responsible for the Programme for Restructuring the State's Central Administration (PRACE) but was said to be disappointed with the results.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} Raquel Martins, [http://economia.publico.pt/Noticia/reforma-do-estado-nao-resolveu-problema-do-numero-de-funcionarios_1430782 Reforma do Estado não resolveu problema do número de funcionários] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305013920/http://economia.publico.pt/Noticia/reforma-do-estado-nao-resolveu-problema-do-numero-de-funcionarios_1430782 |date=5 March 2012 }}, [[Público (newspaper)|Público]] (5 April 2010)</ref> Several reforms and measures implemented in 2006/2007 by the government (XVII ''Governo Constitucional'' – headed by Prime Minister José Sócrates), resulted in improved welfare system financial sustainability but reduced income expectations of future pensioners up to 40%.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} Eugénio Rosa, [http://resistir.info/e_rosa/reducao_pensoes.html Previsões erradas do governo justificam redução das pensões de reforma], "factor de sustentabilidade, determinará, só ele, uma redução muito grande nos valores das pensões dos trabalhadores que se reformarem no futuro que poderá atingir −20%", "medidas que determinarão, no futuro, uma redução dos valores das pensões de reforma que poderão atingir −40% segundo a OCDE"</ref> In addition, economically active people must work for more years before retirement than formerly.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} Manuel Esteves, [https://dn.sapo.pt/2008/01/21/economia/idade_reforma_cresce_a_dois_anos_203.html Idade de reforma cresce um a dois anos até 2030] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029193542/http://dn.sapo.pt/2008/01/21/economia/idade_reforma_cresce_a_dois_anos_203.html |date=29 October 2008 }}, ''[[Diário de Notícias]]''</ref> A sustainability factor was also introduced, giving employees the option of working longer or receiving slightly lower pensions, as life expectancy forecasts increase. After the [[1998 Portuguese regionalisation referendum|Portuguese regionalization referendum of 1998]] where the "No" to regionalization of the mainland into eight administrative regions was victorious, the XVII ''Governo Constitucional'' government announced in January 2009<ref>[http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/?article=383362&visual=26&tema=1 Regionalização: PS/Porto elogia José Sócrates por ter assumido a sua proposta] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314101354/http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/?article=383362&visual=26&tema=1 |date=14 March 2012 }}, [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal]] (19 January 2009)</ref> its firm intention of starting again a [[regionalization]] process for Portugal. According to this governmental project, [[mainland Portugal]] was to be regionalized into five regions with a wide range of administrative autonomy, using the already established [[NUTS II]] system: [[Alentejo Region|Alentejo]], [[Algarve Region|Algarve]], [[Lisboa e Vale do Tejo|Lisbon and Tagus Valley]], [[Centro region|Central Portugal]] and [[Norte Region, Portugal|Northern Portugal]]. The transformation of the Portuguese public administration from a traditional one to an information technology-based multiplatform service, was praised by the [[European Commission]] through its European Union benchmark for the sector, that consecutively placed Portugal in the first position of the ranking in 2009 and 2010.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [https://www.dn.pt/inicio/economia/interior.aspx?content_id=1789294 Portugal em 1.° lugar nos serviços públicos electrónicos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928001439/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/economia/interior.aspx?content_id=1789294 |date=28 September 2011 }}, ''[[Diário de Notícias]]'' (21 February 2011)</ref>
=====Technological plan=====
[[File:HelderCiscoPortugal.jpg|thumb|right|Chris Dedicoat, [[Helder Antunes]], and Sócrates at the 2008 [[Cisco]] Portugal Official Inauguration.]]
One of the government's main policies was the ''Plano Tecnológico'' (Technological Plan), aimed at increasing Portugal's competitivity through the modernization of [[Economy of Portugal|its economy]]. The plan consisted of three key areas: knowledge, technology and innovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planotecnologico.pt/default.aspx?idLang=2&site=planotecnologico |title=Technological Plan – Innovating Portugal |publisher=Planotecnologico.pt |date=16 June 2009 |access-date=24 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318010833/http://www.planotecnologico.pt/default.aspx?idLang=2&site=planotecnologico |archive-date=18 March 2011 }}</ref> A [[low-cost]] [[Intel]]-based [[netbook]] for use by children announced by Sócrates's government cabinet, named ''Magalhães'' (after [[Fernão de Magalhães]]) and packaged and assembled for the Portuguese school-age children and the low-to-middle income economy export market by the Portuguese company J.P. Sá Couto, headquartered in [[Matosinhos]], [[Norte Region, Portugal|Norte region]], was among the government's innovations under the Technological Plan. Governmental efforts in the technological ___domain also included state support of a Portuguese factory that was owned by the German-based semiconductor company [[Qimonda AG]], in [[Vila do Conde]], [[Norte Region, Portugal|Norte region]], when the parent company filed a bankruptcy petition with the local court in [[Munich]], Germany, in early 2009. Qimonda Portugal was at the time one of the top Portuguese net exporters.<ref>[http://www.itworld.com/business/61315/dram-maker-qimonda-files-bankruptcy DRAM maker Qimonda files for bankruptcy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214093909/http://itworld.com/business/61315/dram-maker-qimonda-files-bankruptcy |date=14 February 2009 }}, ITWorld (23 January 2009)</ref>
The [[European Innovation Scoreboard]] of 2010 placed Portugal-based innovation in 15th position, as a result of an impressive increase in innovation expenditure and output.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://economia.publico.pt/Noticia/portugal-ganha-terreno-no-ranking-da-inovacao_1478035 Portugal ganha terreno no ranking da inovação], [[Público (Portugal)|Público]] (1 February 2011)</ref>
=====Educational reforms=====
The government allocated more resources for education policy and reorganised the sector aiming more choice and better quality in professional technical education. Enhanced and improved professional technical education programs were implemented in 2007 in an effort to revitalize this sector which had been almost discontinued after the [[Carnation Revolution]] of 1974. Other education reforms included more financial support for students (in all educational levels), systematic teaching and school evaluation, the compulsory closing of some problematic and unreliable private higher education institutions (like the [[Independente University]] and [[Moderna University]]) by the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, [[Mariano Gago]], and a will to rank and benchmark the higher education institutions through a newly created state-run agency (the ''Agência de Acreditação e Avaliação do Ensino Superior''). During the XVII ''Governo Constitucional'', the pan-European [[Bologna Process]] was fully implemented in Portugal.
On the other hand, the government created a policy of certification and equivalence of qualifications for adult people with low levels of formal education who want a 4th, 6th, 9th or 12th grade equivalence without returning to school (for example, through this process, called ''Novas Oportunidades'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.novasoportunidades.gov.pt/ |title=Guia de Acesso ao Secundário |publisher=Novasoportunidades.gov.pt |access-date=24 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203080944/http://www.novasoportunidades.gov.pt/ |archive-date= 3 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portugal.gov.pt/Portal/PT/Governos/Governos_Constitucionais/GC17/Ministerios/MTSS/Comunicacao/Programas_e_Dossiers/20050921_MTSS_Prog_Novas_Oportunidades.htm |title=Portal do Governo |publisher=Portugal.gov.pt |access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref> adults—18 years old and older—with the 9th grade might be granted an equivalence to the 12th grade after a process ranging from a part-time 3-month programme or a 1-day-per-week 8-month programme; those who have less than 9th grade have a similar programme to get the 9th grade certification and can then apply to the 12th grade programme). The curricula do not include any classical high school discipline or a traditional examination process. These diplomas are awarded based on vaguely construed life experience. Some critics alleged this policy was an effort to make up the poor national statistical indicators on education, with little impact on the quality of the work force's qualification of Portugal in the European Union context.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} A Página da Educação, "Estas considerações surgem como necessárias à problematização e questionamento da bondade da muito propalada "Iniciativa Novas Oportunidades", nomeadamente no eixo de intervenção jovens. Se "fazer do nível secundário o patamar mínimo de qualificação para jovens e adultos" se nos afigura como um objectivo socialmente louvável, concretizá-lo pela expansão da oferta das fileiras menos prestigiadas do secundário, segmento com clara sobre-representação das categorias sociais mais desfavorecidas, e que proporcionam acesso às ocupações com remunerações mais modestas, pode criar a ilusão de uma certa democratização (desde logo quantitativa), e até melhorar a posição do país no ranking europeu da escolarização (sempre importante para fins de "cosmética política"),...")[http://www.apagina.pt/arquivo/Artigo.asp?ID=5644] A Página da Educação (education magazine) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026181935/http://www.apagina.pt/arquivo/Artigo.asp?ID=5644|date=26 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{in lang|pt}} SPN – Sindicato dos Professores do Norte, Direcção da Área de S. João da Madeira, "A ideia generosa das Novas Oportunidades a massificar-se e a ser aplicada sem condições materiais e humanas, o que a transformará num embuste estatístico para melhorar os índices educativos portugueses."[https://web.archive.org/web/20080314234402/http://www.spn.pt/?aba=27&cat=58&doc=1628&mid=115] SPN – Sindicato dos Professores do Norte (Teachers' Union of Norte Region)</ref><ref>{{in lang|pt}} António Figueira, [http://5dias.net/2007/04/20/fernando-sobral-um-conceito-que-e-uma-vergonha/ Fernando Sobral in ''Jornal de Negócios'': Um conceito que é uma vergonha] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024215931/http://5dias.net/2007/04/20/fernando-sobral-um-conceito-que-e-uma-vergonha/ |date=24 October 2007 }} Fernando Sobral: "Novas Oportunidades", como conceito, é uma vergonha. Vende a ideia de que as pessoas que passam a ferro, os caixas de lojas ou os executantes de milhares de tarefas indispensáveis à sociedade, são Zés Ninguém. Cria a noção de que se todos aderirem às "Novas Oportunidades", o sucesso chegará por e-mail. Alguém, claro, terá de fornecer esses trabalhos aparentemente inúteis neste novo conceito. Mas, a acreditar na lógica do Governo, para isso estão cá os brasileiros, os angolanos, os ucranianos e os que não têm direito às oportunidades. Para Sócrates quem não é célebre não interessa e quem não é reconhecido não tem identidade. Esta campanha do Governo não vende ilusões: trafica desejos. E está a alimentar ainda mais um conceito cruel que se desenvolveu na sociedade portuguesa: conhecem-te, existes. "Novas Oportunidades" é a cara do PS "terceira via" de Sócrates. O sucesso está acima de todos os valores. E deve achincalhar o trabalho útil, mas invisível. "Novas Oportunidades" é, simplesmente, um filme de terror governamental. Com sabor a caramelo"., 5DIAS.net</ref>
According to the [[OECD]]'s [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA), the average Portuguese 15-year-old student was for many years underrated and underachieving in terms of reading literacy, mathematics and science knowledge in the OECD, nearly tied with the Italian and just above those from countries like Greece, Turkey and Mexico. However, since 2010, PISA results for Portuguese students improved dramatically. The PISA 2009 report states that the average Portuguese 15-year-old student, when rated in terms of reading literacy, mathematics and science knowledge, is placed at the same level as those students from the United States, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Hungary and [[Taipei]], with 489 points (493 is the average).<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://www.destak.pt/artigo/82223-alunos-portugueses-pela-primeira-vez-perto-da-media-relatorio-pisa Alunos portugueses pela primeira vez "perto da média" – relatório PISA], [[Destak]]</ref> However, a couple of weeks later, the Portuguese Ministry of Education announced a 2010 report published by its office for educational evaluation GAVE (Gabinete de Avaliação do Ministério da Educação) which criticized the results of PISA 2009 report and claimed that the average Portuguese teenage student had profound handicaps in terms of expression, communication and logic, as well as a low performance when asked to solve problems.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://tv2.rtp.pt/noticias/?t=Ministerio-aponta-graves-problemas-aos-alunos-portugueses.rtp&article=403245&visual=3&layout=10&tm=9 Estudo do ministério aponta graves problemas aos alunos portugueses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510023610/http://tv2.rtp.pt/noticias/?t=Ministerio-aponta-graves-problemas-aos-alunos-portugueses.rtp&article=403245&visual=3&layout=10&tm=9 |date=10 May 2011 }}, GAVE (Gabinete de Avaliação do Ministério da Educação) 2010 report in [[Radio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]</ref>
=====Transportation developments=====
[[File:20100327-InauguracaoRamalPortoAveiro.JPG|thumb|Sócrates speaking in the ceremonial opening of a [[:pt:Ramal do Porto de Aveiro|new railway line]], on 27 March 2010.]]
Prime Minister José Sócrates and his government team supported the decision of building new transportation infrastructure such as a new airport for Lisbon and a [[High-speed rail in Portugal|high speed rail network]]. For months the government of Prime Minister José Sócrates insisted the country's only option for a new airport was in the [[Ota (Alenquer)|Ota]] region north of Lisbon. But a powerful lobby, headed by local business honchos and given the imprimatur of the Portuguese president [[Aníbal Cavaco Silva]], forced Sócrates's Government into reversal, by bringing an alternative site for the new airport – the [[Portuguese Air Force]]'s [[Field Firing Range of Alcochete|shooting range in Alcochete]] east of Lisbon. A study commissioned by a group of businesspeople said the [[Alcochete]] site would save taxpayers as much as €3bn in construction costs, and would have less of an environmental impact. The government argued that Ota was a key piece of its overall transport strategy, which included highspeed rail lines to Spain, but even so recognized that the project wasn't finalized and that a debate on the pros and cons of both sites would be worthwhile. Then the government commissioned a technical study to the state-run civil engineering laboratory ({{langx|pt|[[Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil]]}}) comparing both locations one to each other. Following the conclusions of that study, on 10 January 2008 Prime Minister José Sócrates announced the option Alcochete as the most rational choice for a new airport for Lisbon.
=====Other=====
In 2007, the XVII ''Governo Constitucional'', headed by Prime Minister José Sócrates, legalised abortion in Portugal after a referendum. Voters were being asked to decide whether to make abortion legal in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, if carried out at the woman's request in a registered clinic. Despite the turnout for a referendum being too low (40%; 50% needed) to be legally binding, José Sócrates said: "Our interest is to fight clandestine abortion and we have to produce a law that respects the result of the referendum."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6350651.stm Portugal will legalise abortion], [[BBC News]] (12 February 2007)</ref> This socialist government cabinet also announced its intention to legalize [[same-sex marriage]] at some point during its mandate. [[Same-sex marriage in Portugal]] was legalized on 17 May 2010.
Also, in 2009, through the [http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2009/04/07000/0219402206.pdf Decree-Law 91/2009], the rights of fathers and mothers were equalled under the law (see also [[Fathers' rights]]).
After a sharp increase of the [[violent crime]] [[Crime in Portugal|rate in Portugal]] during the XVII ''Governo Constitucional'' government (2005–2009), the minister of internal administration, [[Rui Pereira (politician)|Rui Pereira]], announced in February 2009 the expansion of the police force through the recruitment of 2,000 new police officers, 7,000 new state-of-the-art police weapons, 1,000 [[bulletproof vest]]s, among other measures.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} Filipe Caetano, [http://diario.iol.pt/sociedade/rui-pereira-seguranca-psp-gnr-administracao-interna/1041698-4071.html Ministro quer mais polícias, mas não explica crime], IOL.pt (10 February 2009)</ref>
Until 2010, for [[stock]] held for more than twelve months the [[Capital gain tax|capital gain]] was exempt. The capital gain of stock held for shorter periods of time was taxable on 10%. From 2010 onwards, for residents, all capital gain of stock and other assets above €500 is taxable on 20%. Investment funds, banks and corporations are in general exempted of capital gain tax over stock.
Various measures aimed at helping families,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110614160504/http://www.ps.pt/as-politicas-sociais/apoiamos-as-familias-e-incentivamos-a-natalidade/itemid-100057 WE SUPPORT FAMILIES AND ENCOURAGE CHILDBIRTH RATE]</ref> young people<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110614160602/http://www.ps.pt/as-politicas-sociais/apoiamos-os-jovens/itemid-100057 WE SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE]</ref> and pensioners<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110614160321/http://www.ps.pt/as-politicas-sociais/combatemos-a-pobreza-e-reduzimos-as-desigualdades/itemid-100057 WE FIGHT POVERTY AND REDUCE INEQUALITIES]</ref> were also carried out.
====Presidency of the Council of the European Union====
[[File:Portuguese EU Presidency Lisbon 2007 Jansa Da Silva Socrates Barroso.jpg|thumb|300px|right|José Sócrates, Brazilian President [[Lula da Silva]], President of the European Commission [[José Manuel Barroso]] and Slovenian Prime Minister [[Janez Janša]] during the EU-Brazil conference in [[Lisbon]] 2007]]
José Sócrates, as prime minister of Portugal, presided over the rotative [[presidency of the Council of the European Union]] for the period July–December 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/vEN/ |title=EU Presidency |publisher=Eu2007.pt |access-date=26 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411175943/http://www.eu2007.pt/UE/ven/ |archive-date=11 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In this post, Sócrates and his team focused on the EU-[[Brazil]] ([[1st EU-Brazil summit]]) and EU-[[African Union]] ([[2007 Africa-EU Summit]]) relations, as well as in the approval of the [[Treaty of Lisbon]]. The [[Portuguese Parliament]] voted to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon on 23 April 2008. After the Irish referendum on 12 June 2008, Prime Minister José Sócrates said he saw the Irish "No" to the treaty as a "personal defeat" after it was signed by EU leaders in the Portuguese capital.<ref>[http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1213380168.95 Europe stunned by Irish rejection of treaty]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> A second referendum was held in Ireland in 2009, and the outcome was the approval of the Treaty of Lisbon by all EU member states, including Ireland.
====Economic crisis====
{{main|Economic history of Portugal}}
From 2005 to 2010, José Sócrates' cabinet faced increasing challenges due to [[Economic history of Portugal#Economic crisis: the 2000s and 2010s|economic and financial downturn]]. The Portuguese economy was in crisis since 2002 owing to stagnation and high unemployment; in the late 2000s, Europe's [[sovereign debt crisis]] led to huge [[Government budget deficit|deficits]] and even higher rampant unemployment in Portugal. International [[financial market]]s compelled the Portuguese Government, like other European governments, to make radical changes in economic policy. Thus, in September 2010, the Portuguese Government announced a fresh austerity package following other [[Eurozone]] partners, aiming to halve its budget deficit by 2011 with a series of tax hikes and salary cuts for [[public servant]]s. In 2009, the deficit had been 9.4%, one of the highest in the Eurozone and way above the [[European Union]]'s [[Stability and Growth Pact]] 3% limit. The Portuguese Government earlier targeted a 2011 shortfall of 5.1% but a growing crisis sparked by chronic budget expenditure, massive debt and deficit problems, forced Portugal to take even more difficult measures. In September, pressure from the [[International Monetary Fund]], [[Ecofin]], [[OECD]] and the main opposition party, forced Sócrates' cabinet to adopt successive packages of radical austerity measures, contrary to what had been promised during the previous [[electoral campaign]]s.
A report published in January 2011 by the ''[[Diário de Notícias]]'', a leading Portuguese newspaper, demonstrated that in the period between the [[Carnation Revolution]] in 1974 and 2010, the democratic [[Government of Portugal|Portuguese Republic government]]s have encouraged over expenditure and investment bubbles through unclear public-private partnerships. This has funded numerous ineffective and unnecessary external consultancy and advising committees and firms, allowed considerable [[slippage (finance)|slippage]] in state-managed [[public works]], inflated top management and head officers' bonuses and wages, causing a persistent and lasting recruitment policy that has boosted the number of unnecessary public servants. The economy has also been damaged by risky [[credit (finance)|credit]], [[public debt]] creation and mismanaged European [[structural and cohesion funds]] for almost four decades. Apparently, the Prime Minister Sócrates's cabinet was not able to forecast or prevent any of this when symptoms first appeared in 2005, and later was incapable of doing anything to ameliorate the situation when the country was on the verge of bankruptcy in 2011.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110108021723/http://dn.sapo.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=1750097&seccao=Media Grande investigação DN Conheça o verdadeiro peso do Estado], ''[[Diário de Notícias]]'' (7 January 2011)</ref>
On 6 April 2011, having already resigned as prime minister, Sócrates went on television to announce that Portugal, facing bankruptcy, would request financial assistance from the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] (at the time managed by [[Dominique Strauss-Kahn]]) and the [[European Financial Stability Facility]], as [[Greece]] and the Republic of Ireland had already done. The announcement was made 48 hours after Sócrates had categorically denied the move would be needed.
====Fall of government====
On 23 March 2011, Sócrates resigned following passage of a [[no confidence]] motion sponsored by all five opposition parties in parliament over spending cuts and tax increases.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20110323-portuguese-parliament-votes-against-austerity-plan-jose-socrates-eurozone |title=Portuguese parliament votes against austerity plan |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=23 March 2011 |publisher=[[France 24]]}}</ref> Before the vote, Sócrates had stated that he would resign if the vote for further austerity measures didn't pass.<ref name="Guardian-resign">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/mar/23/portugal-government-collapses-eu-bailout-looms |title=Portugal in crisis after prime minister resigns over austerity measures |website=The Guardian |___location=UK |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref> As a result, a [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|general election]] was held on 5 June 2011.<ref name="Guardian-resign" />
The Portuguese government fell a day before an EU summit was due to take place to finalise the EU's response to countries requiring a bailout in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/mar/24/summit-begins-portugal-crisis |title=EU summit begins in the shadow of Portugal's crisis |website=The Guardian |___location=UK |date=24 March 2011 |access-date=24 March 2011}}</ref>
After losing the [[2011 Portuguese legislative election|Portuguese legislative election of 2011]], held on 5 June 2011, he resigned from Secretary-General of the [[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Socialist Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-24 |title=José Sócrates departure leaves Portugal in a vacuum {{!}} Joana Gorjão Henriques |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/mar/24/jose-socrates-resignation-portugal |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>
==Controversies==
===Sócrates–Independente affair===
In March 2007, ''[[Universidade Independente]]'' (UnI), a private university in Lisbon, was placed under investigation for alleged irregularities on several matters.
In that same month, Sócrates' ''licenciatura'' degree in civil engineering by ''Universidade Independente'' was put under enormous public scrutiny.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Journalists found that qualifications awarded did not follow procedure and that four of the five [[academic discipline]]s were given in the private university by the same professor, António José Moraes, a socialist government appointee. A fifth academic discipline, "technical English" was given by the Independente's [[Rector (academia)|rector]]. A strong case was built up related to possible false declarations by José Sócrates regarding his university degree, and the way he was awarded this degree in civil engineering. Among other issues, the Independente degree in civil engineering was not an accredited degree, a civil engineering department was not yet established at that university, one examination was sent by [[fax]] and Sócrates' diploma was issued on a Sunday, a day on which the university was always closed.
Some Portuguese news media professionals stated that Sócrates or members of his staff, through phone calls, threatened court action against journalists and tried to stop the reportings on his ''licenciatura'' degree awarded by UnI.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1291018&idCanal=1453 Sofia Branco – José Manuel Fernandes e Sarsfield Cabral disseram ter havido ameaças de processos judiciais] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612074717/http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1291018&idCanal=1453 |date=12 June 2007 }}, in [[Público (Portugal)|Público]]</ref> On 9 April 2007, ''Universidade Independente'' was closed by government officials after an investigation reported several serious irregularities in the running of this private university.
Under heavy pressure, Sócrates provided his version of the facts on Wednesday, 11 April 2007, in a live broadcast interview for the [[RTP 1]] TV channel and [[Radiodifusão Portuguesa|RDP]] radio. The prime minister stated he was not favoured by the ''Universidade Independente'' to obtain the degree, declared he had been the target of "catty accusations", and defended the authenticity of the degree, though admitting he is not a fully chartered civil engineer.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://noticias.rtp.pt/index.php?article=277869&visual=16 José Sócrates espera que entrevista à RTP e RDP tenha sido esclarecedora], in [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal]]</ref> In his official biography at the [[Portuguese Government]]'s official website, Sócrates claimed to have already obtained the qualification of engineer. He later admitted that this was a "lapse", and the government website altered his CV, downgrading "civil engineer" to "diploma in civil engineering". In the interest of accuracy, he should have used "''licenciado em engenharia civil''" instead of "''engenheiro''". Before he had been granted the degree, he presented himself as an "engineer" when he was solely a "[[technical engineer]]". [[Portuguese Parliament]] documents with official information on Sócrates personal data were found, proving such inconsistencies.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://www.rtp.pt/index.php?article=278954&visual=16&rss=0 PSD comunicou a Gama que registos de Sócrates eram assunto encerrado] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112095112/http://www.rtp.pt/index.php?article=278954&visual=16&rss=0 |date=12 November 2007 }}, in [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal]]</ref> Sócrates and his staff replied to this by stating that it was probably a misunderstanding in the parliamentary services. After having the ''licenciatura'' diploma he used the title "engineer" in several official documents, despite the fact that his unaccredited degree in civil engineering from ''Universidade Independente'' was not legally recognized to allow for the use of the title "engineer"; a profession which is regulated in Portugal by the ''[[Ordem dos Engenheiros]]''.
José Sócrates was fiercely criticised by members of Portugal's democratic opposition in the Parliament regarding both proven and unproven issues related to this controversy. Nicolau Santos, a television journalist and a director of [[Expresso (Portuguese newspaper)|''Expresso'']] newspaper, criticised the controversial series of fait-divers published in [[Público (Portugal)|''Público'']] and claimed that despite the extensive coverage of details, Público's investigation lead to "no definitive conclusion" and might be connected with other issues. In the same tone, several other media personalities, like [[SIC Notícias]]' journalist [[Ricardo Costa (journalist)|Ricardo Costa]], also suggested controversially that [[SONAE]] corporation, the parent company of Público newspaper, was behind the beginning of the controversy due to a failed [[takeover bid]] of SONAE's telecommunications operator over the largest Portuguese telecom – [[Portugal Telecom]].<ref>[http://www.clubedejornalistas.pt/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=933 Clube de Jornalistas > 1.ª Página > Quando o telefone toca]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> The complexity of the takeover bid involving the largest Portuguese telecom, prompted State intervention by the ''[[Autoridade da Concorrência]]'' (The Portuguese Competition Authority).
It was found that a close friend of Sócrates, [[Armando Vara]], was also awarded a diploma by the ''Universidade Independente'' days before he was appointed to a high ranking banking administration position in the state-run [[Caixa Geral de Depósitos]], which in turn was strictly opened to candidates holding at last one academic degree in any subject.
====Investigation====
State authorities investigated the affair and archived the file on the grounds that the suspicions of falsification and irregularities allegedly attributed to José Sócrates turned out to be formally impossible to prove.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}} On the other hand, the ''Universidade Independente'' was investigated by education state authorities, which resulted in the compulsory closing of that private university in October 2007, due to lack of academic rigour and teaching quality, along with generalized managerial and financial chaos in the institution.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Lusa News Agency|Lusa]] |date=27 October 2007 |title=Universidade Independente já transferiu todos os alunos e encerra na quarta-feira |language=pt |newspaper=Público |url=https://www.publico.pt/2007/10/26/portugal/noticia/universidade-independente-ja-transferiu-todos-os-alunos-e-encerra-na-quartafeira-1308882 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012193702/https://www.publico.pt/2007/10/26/portugal/noticia/universidade-independente-ja-transferiu-todos-os-alunos-e-encerra-na-quartafeira-1308882 |archive-date=12 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===''Magalhães'' computer===
A [[low-cost]] [[Intel]] [[Classmate PC]]-based [[netbook]] for use by children, announced and sponsored by Sócrates' cabinet, named ''Magalhães'' (after [[Fernão de Magalhães]]), assembled by the Portuguese company J.P. Sá Couto, was at the centre of a controversy on 7 October 2008, when the company was suspected of €5 million worth of [[tax evasion]].<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1345162&idCanal=62 JP Sá Couto é acusada de fraude e fuga ao IVA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008013353/http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1345162&idCanal=62 |date=8 October 2008 }}, [[Público (Portugal)|Público]]</ref> J.P. Sá Couto dismissed all the accusations regarding alleged fiscal fraud within the company.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1347267&idCanal=57 JP Sá Couto reclama inocência em operação “carrossel”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024193349/http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1347267&idCanal=57 |date=24 October 2008 }}, in [[Público (Portugal)|Público]] (23 October 2008)</ref> Other major controversy regarding ''Magalhães'' computer were the legal issues about [[public contract]]ing procedure in the agreement involving the Government and the company J.P. Sá Couto. The case led to an investigation that raised other similar issues involving other governmental agreements and public contracts.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} Nuno Simas, [http://www.publico.clix.pt/Política/psd-poe-socrates-sob-pressao-com-inquerito-ao-magalhaes_1412912 Fundação das Comunicações em causa – PSD põe Sócrates sob pressão com inquérito ao Magalhães] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809214007/http://www.publico.clix.pt/Pol%C3%ADtica/psd-poe-socrates-sob-pressao-com-inquerito-ao-magalhaes_1412912 |date=9 August 2010 }}, in [[Público (Portugal)|Público]]</ref>
===Freeport outlet controversy===
Since 2005, and, especially again in 2009, it was suggested by some Portuguese and British media that José Sócrates allegedly waived environmental restrictions, following intervention by one of his uncles and a cousin, to grant the British company Freeport a licence to build the Alcochete mall, a gigantic emporium near the [[Tagus]] river, developed in part on protected land outside Lisbon in 2002, when he was Minister for Environment of the PM [[António Guterres]]' cabinet.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-pm-vows-to-defend-honour-over-mall-1517567.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220617/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/portugal-pm-vows-to-defend-honour-over-mall-1517567.html |archive-date=17 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Independent |title=Portugal PM vows to defend honour over mall |date=27 January 2009 |first=Elizabeth |last=Nash }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g2Dke6tMiLmvWYjhQun12f4EYENA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204222229/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g2Dke6tMiLmvWYjhQun12f4EYENA |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 February 2009 |title=AFP: Portuguese PM denies taking bribes from British firm |date=24 January 2009 |access-date=26 March 2011}}</ref>
Portuguese authorities have meanwhile insisted José Sócrates was not under investigation, nor was he a suspect, while UK's [[Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom)|Serious Fraud Office]] refused to confirm the veracity of reports emanating in Portugal. José Sócrates also stated the Freeport project was in due compliance with all legal requirements at the time.<ref>[http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110524220732/http://www.the-news.net/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=995-1 PM under UK investigation?] The Portugal News Online (31 January 2009)</ref> Júlio Eduardo Coelho Monteiro, a businessman who is an uncle of José Sócrates, told the Portuguese newspaper Sol how he established contact between his nephew and Freeport's representatives.
In a DVD held by the British police and released in March 2009 by the Portuguese media, Charles Smith, a consultant hired to handle the licensing of the Freeport of Alcochete, clearly stated that José Sócrates "was corrupt" and that he received, through a cousin, money to give the green light to the project for the "outlet". The recording revealed by [[Televisão Independente|TVI]] is only part of a conversation of 20 minutes that, alongside Charles Smith, also included John Cabral, an official of the consultant, and Alan Perkins, director of Freeport. It was the latter who, without knowledge of the other two, has recorded the event, where Smith and Cabral were questioned about the money that left the company to be used for the payment of "gloves" to the current prime minister. Charles Smith is one of two defendants in the case Freeport, commercial space on the process of Freeport Alcochete, related to alleged suspicions of corruption in the amendment to the Special Protection Area of the Tagus estuary (ZPET) decided three days before the elections of 2002, through a decree-law, when José Sócrates was Minister of Environment.
The conversation now revealed took place in 2006 with the aim of explaining the large outgoing amounts of money from the company's headquarters in London at the time of approval of the project. According to some sources contacted in London by TVI, José Sócrates remains the main suspect of British police. The British police are now set to send to the Portuguese authorities the 25 volumes of all research done in this process in England. The Serious Fraud Office, which investigates major financial fraud in Britain, has seen its activity limited due to the lack of cooperation of the Portuguese authorities in investigating the case. The first official meeting took place only on 17 November 2008 in The Hague, the headquarters of Eurojust, a body which is designed to facilitate judicial cooperation in the EU. Judge Cândida Almeida, director of DCIAP (Central Department for investigation and prosecution), which coordinates the department's prosecutor who investigates the case, refused a joint research proposal by the English. Then she became aware of the DVD. The prosecutor dropped the evidence, arguing that it did not comply with Portuguese law.<ref>{{in lang|pt}} [http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1371282&idCanal=62 Freeport: Smith afirma em DVD na posse da polícia inglesa que Sócrates “é corrupto”] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330043841/http://ultimahora.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1371282&idCanal=62 |date=30 March 2009 }}, [[Público (Portugal)|Público]] (27 March 2009)</ref>
The [[Eurojust]] tried to distance itself from the scandal involving its head, José da Mota, a Portuguese, who allegedly put pressure on prosecutors in order to stop a corruption probe involving Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates. Two magistrates dealing with the so-called Freeport affair accused José Mota of having tried to persuade them to sideline the investigation at the request of the Portuguese premier and the minister of justice. The premier and Mr Mota's relationship goes back to the late nineties, when they worked in the same government as state secretaries for environment and justice, respectively. In 2002, when the new EU body was formed (Eurojust), Mr Mota was transferred to [[The Hague]] as Portugal's representative to Eurojust. He was elected head of the judicial co-operation body in 2007, at a time when the so-called Freeport case had already started in Portugal.<ref>[http://euobserver.com/9/28120 Eurojust chief embroiled in Portuguese corruption scandal], euobserver.com (13 May 2009)</ref>
On 22 May 2012, Alan Perkins, a Freeport manager between 2005 and 2006, said, under oath in court, that illegal payments had been made to the minister of the Environment. At the time, the minister of the Environment was José Sócrates.
===''Face Oculta'' scandal===
{{main|Face Oculta}}
Another corruption case involving Sócrates was the ''[[Face Oculta]]'' scandal. On 28 October 2009, the police began investigating a business group headquartered in [[Ovar]]. [[Armando Vara]], one of the suspects, was reported to have had "talks" with Sócrates. Sócrates denied any involvement, claiming that he was only talking to a friend.<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 November 2009 |title=Face Oculta: BE quer ouvir ministro da Economia no Parlamento |language=pt |newspaper=Jornal I |url=http://www.ionline.pt/conteudo/32449-face-oculta-be-quer-ouvir-ministro-da-economia-no-parlamento |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722002354/http://www.ionline.pt/conteudo/32449-face-oculta-be-quer-ouvir-ministro-da-economia-no-parlamento |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In February 2011 the company TMN, that belongs to [[Portugal Telecom]], claimed that, because of an informatics-related problem, all the information and data about the case and related to Armando Vara (ex-vice-president of BCP), Rui Pedro Soares (ex-manager of PT), Mário Lino (ex-minister) and Paulo Penedos (ex-assistant of PT) had disappeared.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publico.pt/Sociedade/tmn-destruiu-resgistos-telefonicos-do-face-oculta-por-razoes-tecnicas_1479343 |title=TMN justifica destruição de registos telefónicos do Face Oculta com questões de ordem técnica – Sociedade |publisher=Publico.Pt |language=pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213064636/http://www.publico.pt/Sociedade/tmn-destruiu-resgistos-telefonicos-do-face-oculta-por-razoes-tecnicas_1479343 |archive-date=13 February 2011 }}</ref> David Dinis, editor of the ''Diário de Notícias'' newspaper, quit his job because of pressure from the director, João Marcelino, to stop this information being spread by the press.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://publico.pt/Sociedade/nao-publicacao-de-noticia-leva-a-demissao-de-editor-de-politica-do-diario-de-noticias_1479346 |title=Não publicação de notícia leva a demissão de editor de política do Diário de Notícias |language=pt |publisher=Publico.Pt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214223056/http://www.publico.pt/Sociedade/nao-publicacao-de-noticia-leva-a-demissao-de-editor-de-politica-do-diario-de-noticias_1479346 |archive-date=14 February 2011 }}</ref>
Sócrates was not indicted as part of the ''Face Oculta'' probe,<ref name="ADN-1">{{Cite news|title=Face Oculta sentences handed out – Godinho gets 17 years in prison |date=5 September 2014 |newspaper=Algarve Daily News |url=http://algarvedailynews.com/news/3338-face-oculta-tiral-ends-godinho-gets-17-years-in-prison |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011161840/http://algarvedailynews.com/news/3338-face-oculta-tiral-ends-godinho-gets-17-years-in-prison |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> but investigation of corruption charges continued under ''Operation Marquis''.<ref>''Operação Marquês'' in Portuguese. {{Cite news|title=Operation Marquês charges announced – Sócrates controlled €24 million in Swiss bank accounts |date=11 October 2017 |newspaper= Algarve Daily News |url=http://algarvedailynews.com/news/12728-operation-marques-charges-announced-portugal-s-former-elite-to-be-tried |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011173857/http://algarvedailynews.com/news/12728-operation-marques-charges-announced-portugal-s-former-elite-to-be-tried |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Corruption investigation===
In November 2014, José Sócrates was arrested on suspicions of corruption and money-laundering,<ref>{{Cite news |last=de Beer |first=Brenden |date=27 November 2014 |title=I didn't do it |newspaper=The Portugal News |url=http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/i-didnt-do-it/33317 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141130212449/http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/i-didnt-do-it/33317 |archive-date=30 November 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 October 2017 }}</ref> having come to light that a close friend was holding millions of euros for his benefit. Sócrates claimed that he merely borrowed money from his friend, but there were no records of the amounts loaned, which admittedly funded a luxurious lifestyle in Paris after Sócrates left the government.<ref>{{Cite news|title=L'ex-premier ministre portugais José Socrates mis en examen |trans-title=Former Portuguese prime minister José Socrates charged |language=fr |date=24 November 2014 |newspaper=Le Monde |url=http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2014/11/24/portugal-l-ancien-premier-ministre-jose-socrates-place-en-detention-provisoire_4528655_3214.html }}</ref> This came to light during the government's ''Operation Marquis'' investigation.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Smith |first= Geoffrey |title=Portugal's ex-PM Socrates to face further questions Monday in corruption probe |date=24 November 2014 |magazine=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2014/11/24/portugals-ex-pm-socrates-to-face-further-questions-monday-in-corruption-probe/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124104228/http://fortune.com/2014/11/24/portugals-ex-pm-socrates-to-face-further-questions-monday-in-corruption-probe/ |archive-date=24 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was originally held pending the conclusion of this investigation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Portugal ex-PM charged with corruption, to remain in custody |work=Reuters|___location=UK|date=24 November 2014 |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-corruption-socrates-idUKKCN0J828520141124 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930040003/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-portugal-corruption-socrates/portugal-ex-pm-charged-with-corruption-to-remain-in-custody-idUKKCN0J828520141124 |archive-date=30 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/former-portugal-pm-held-on-corruption-and-fraud-charges-1.2014147|title=Former Portugal PM held on corruption and fraud charges|newspaper=The Irish Times |date=25 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126132120/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/former-portugal-pm-held-on-corruption-and-fraud-charges-1.2014147 |archive-date=26 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Sócrates was imprisoned in the jail at [[Évora]] until September 2015 when he was remanded to [[house arrest]] at a relative's house in Lisbon.<ref>{{Cite news|title=José Sócrates está detido em Évora |language=pt|publisher=TSF Radio (Global Media Group) |date=25 November 2014 |url=http://www.tsf.pt/PaginaInicial/Portugal/Interior.aspx?content_id=4259172 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617120133/http://www.tsf.pt/portugal/politica/interior/jose-socrates-esta-detido-em-evora-4259172.html?id=4259172 |archive-date=17 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Former Portugal PM Socrates leaves jail for house arrest |newspaper=Euronews |date=4 September 2014 |url=http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/04/former-portugal-pm-socrates-leave-jail-for-house-arrest/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926010530/http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/04/former-portugal-pm-socrates-leave-jail-for-house-arrest/ |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=[[Lusa News Agency]] |author=Staff |date=10 September 2015 |title=Former PM Sócrates out of prison, under house arrest |newspaper=The Portugal News |url=http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/former-pm-socrates-out-of-prison-under-house-arrest/35889 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019115605/http://theportugalnews.com/news/former-pm-socrates-out-of-prison-under-house-arrest/35889 |archive-date=19 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> He was freed from house arrest in October 2015, but was constrained to remain in Portugal and prohibited from contacting other suspects in the case, pending completion of the investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sócrates libertado |language=pt |newspaper=Expresso |date=16 October 2015 |url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-16-Socrates-libertado |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929183838/http://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-16-Socrates-libertado |archive-date=29 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=José Sócrates e Santos Silva libertados |publisher=TSF Radio (Global Media Group) |date=16 October 2015 |language=pt |url=http://www.tsf.pt/sociedade/justica/interior/jose-socrates-e-santos-silva-libertados-4838698.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206133347/http://www.tsf.pt/sociedade/justica/interior/jose-socrates-e-santos-silva-libertados-4838698.html |archive-date=6 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, Sócrates was formally indicted on corruption charges including bribery, money laundering and tax fraud.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Andrei |last=Khalip |date=11 October 2017 |title=Portuguese ex-PM Socrates indicted on corruption charges |work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-corruption-socrates/portuguese-ex-pm-socrates-indicted-on-corruption-charges-idUSKBN1CG1U5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011161501/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-corruption-socrates/portuguese-ex-pm-socrates-indicted-on-corruption-charges-idUSKBN1CG1U5 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The charges of document forgery, tax evasion, money laundering and misuse of political office were based upon three transactions:<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Petronilho |first1=Ana |last2=Cabrita |first2=Felícia |last3=Alves |first3=Joana Marques |date=11 October 2017 |title=O que está em causa na Operação Marquês |language=pt |url=https://ionline.sapo.pt/artigo/584021/o-que-esta-em-causa-na-operacao-marqu-s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011212357/https://ionline.sapo.pt/artigo/584021/o-que-esta-em-causa-na-operacao-marqu-s |archive-date=11 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Sonae]]'s takeover black knight bid for [[Portugal Telecom]] and the subsequent white knight takeover defence through a proposed merger with Brazilian telecom operator [[Oi (telecommunications)|Oi]] involving Portugal Telecom's CEO [[Zeinal Bava]],
* the [[Vale do Lobo]] expansion project, and
* the development of a [[High-speed rail in Portugal|high-speed railway line]].
On 9 April 2021, a Portuguese judge dismissed the corruption charges against Sócrates, upholding lesser charges of money laundering and falsifying documents.<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 April 2021 |title=Portuguese court orders ex-PM Sócrates to stand trial for money laundering |language=en |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-former-prime-minister-jose-socrates-trial-money-laundering/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409203949/https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-former-prime-minister-jose-socrates-trial-money-laundering/ |archive-date=9 April 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Electoral history==
===PS leadership election, 2004===
{{Main article|2004 Portuguese Socialist Party leadership election}}
{{election table|title=Ballot: 25 and 26 September 2004}}
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
! align="center" colspan=2 style="width: 60px"|Candidate
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Votes
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}|
| align=left | '''José Sócrates'''
| align=right | 18,432
| align=right | 78.6
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}|
| align=left | [[Manuel Alegre]]
| align=right | 3,903
| align=right | 16.7
|-
|bgcolor={{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}}|
| align=left | [[João Soares (politician)|João Soares]]
| align=right | 927
| align=right | 4.0
|-
| colspan=2 align=left | Blank/Invalid ballots
| align=right | 175
| align=right | 0.7
|-
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan=2 style="text-align:left;" | '''Turnout'''
| align=right | '''23,437'''
| align=center |
|-
| colspan="4" align=left|Source: Resultados<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/politica/detalhe/socrates-novo-lider-indiscutivel |title=Sócrates, novo líder indiscutível |work=Correio da Manhã |date=26 September 2004 |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
|}
===Legislative election, 2005===
{{Main|2005 Portuguese legislative election}}
{{election table|title=Ballot: 20 February 2005}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
| align=left |'''José Sócrates''' || 2,588,312 || 45.0 || '''121''' || style="color:green;"| +25
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
| align=left |[[Pedro Santana Lopes]] || 1,653,425 || 28.8 || '''75''' || style="color:red;"| –30
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|
| align="left"| [[Unitary Democratic Coalition|CDU]]
| align=left |[[Jerónimo de Sousa]] || 433,369 || 7.5 || '''14''' || style="color:green;"| +2
|-
| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|
| align="left"| [[CDS – People's Party|CDS–PP]]
| align=left |[[Paulo Portas]] || 416,415 || 7.3 || '''12''' || style="color:red;"| –2
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"| [[Left Bloc (Portugal)|BE]]
| align=left |[[Francisco Louçã]] || 364,971 || 6.4 || '''8''' || style="color:green;"| +5
|-
| style="background:white;"|
| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties
| 122,127 || 2.1 || '''0''' || ±0
|-
| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots
| 169,052 || 2.9 || – || –
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="3" align="left"| '''Turnout'''
| '''5,747,834''' || '''64.26''' || '''230''' || '''±0'''
|-
| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_ar_2005_rectificacao.pdf |title=Resultados AR 2005 Rectificação |work=Comissão Nacional de Eleições |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
|}
===Legislative election, 2009===
{{Main|2009 Portuguese legislative election}}
{{election table|title=Ballot: 27 September 2009}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
| align=left |'''José Sócrates''' || 2,077,238 || 36.6 || '''97''' || style="color:red;"| –24
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
| align=left |[[Manuela Ferreira Leite]] || 1,653,665 || 29.1 || '''81''' || style="color:green;"| +6
|-
| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|
| align="left"| [[CDS – People's Party|CDS–PP]]
| align=left |[[Paulo Portas]] || 592,778 || 10.4 || '''21''' || style="color:green;"| +9
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"| [[Left Bloc (Portugal)|BE]]
| align=left |[[Francisco Louçã]] || 557,306 || 9.8 || '''16''' || style="color:green;"| +8
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|
| align="left"| [[Unitary Democratic Coalition|CDU]]
| align=left |[[Jerónimo de Sousa]] || 446,279 || 7.9 || '''15''' || style="color:green;"| +1
|-
| style="background:white;"|
| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties
| 178,012 || 3.1 || '''0''' || ±0
|-
| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots
| 175,980 || 3.1 || – || –
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="3" align="left"| '''Turnout'''
| '''5,681,258''' || '''59.68''' || '''230''' || '''±0'''
|-
| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições<ref name="Diário da República Mapa Oficial">{{citation | title = Diário da República Mapa Oficial | url= https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_ar_2009.pdf| publisher = Comissão Nacional de Eleições | access-date = 10 October 2022}}</ref>
|}
===Legislative election, 2011===
{{Main|2011 Portuguese legislative election}}
{{election table|title=Ballot: 5 June 2011}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|%
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|Seats
! align="center" style="width: 50px"|+/−
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Social Democratic Party (Portugal)|PSD]]
| align=left |[[Pedro Passos Coelho]] || 2,159,181 || 38.7 || '''108''' || style="color:green;"| +27
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"|[[Socialist Party (Portugal)|PS]]
| align=left |'''José Sócrates''' || 1,566,347 || 28.0 || '''74''' || style="color:red;"| –23
|-
| style="background:{{party color|CDS – People's Party}};"|
| align="left"| [[CDS – People's Party|CDS–PP]]
| align=left |[[Paulo Portas]] || 653,888 || 11.7 || '''24''' || style="color:green;"| +3
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Unitary Democratic Coalition}};"|
| align="left"| [[Unitary Democratic Coalition|CDU]]
| align=left |[[Jerónimo de Sousa]] || 441,147 || 7.9 || '''16''' || style="color:green;"| +1
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Left Bloc (Portugal)}};"|
| align="left"| [[Left Bloc (Portugal)|BE]]
| align=left |[[Francisco Louçã]] || 288,923 || 5.2 || '''8''' || style="color:red;"| –8
|-
| style="background:{{party color|Communist Party of the Portuguese Workers / Reorganizative Movement of the Party of the Proletariat}};"|
| align="left"| [[Portuguese Workers' Communist Party|PCTP/MRPP]]
| align=left |[[António Garcia Pereira|Garcia Pereira]] || 62,610 || 1.1 || '''0''' || ±0
|-
| style="background:teal;"|
| align="left"| [[People-Animals-Nature|PAN]]
| align=left |[[Paulo Borges]] || 57,995 || 1.0 || '''0''' || ''new''
|-
| style="background:white;"|
| colspan="2" align="left"| Other parties
| 126,521 || 2.3 || '''0''' || ±0
|-
| colspan="3" align="left"| Blank/Invalid ballots
| 228,017 || 4.1 || – || –
|- style="background-color:#E9E9E9"
| colspan="3" align="left"| '''Turnout'''
| '''5,585,054''' || '''58.03''' || '''230''' || '''±0'''
|-
| colspan="7" align=left|Source: Comissão Nacional de Eleições<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cne.pt/sites/default/files/dl/resultados_ar2011.pdf |title=Mapa Resultados AR 2011 |work=CNE |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
|}
==References and notes==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|s=Author:José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa|d=Q182367|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|wikt=no|q=no|n=no}}
* {{in lang|pt}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20051214090533/http://www.pcm.gov.pt/Portal/PT Portuguese government website] – Official web site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061206033405/http://www.pcm.gov.pt/Portal/EN/ Portuguese government website] – Official web site
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Socialist Party (Portugal)|Secretary-General of the Socialist Party]]|years=2004–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[António José Seguro]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Elisa Ferreira]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry for Environment and Spatial Planning|Minister of the Environment]]|years=1999–2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Arlindo Cunha}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications|Minister of Social Infrastructure]]|years=2002}}
{{s-aft|after=Luís Valente de Oliveira}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Pedro Santana Lopes]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Portugal]]|years=2005–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pedro Passos Coelho]]}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Angela Merkel]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the European Council]]|years=2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Janez Janša]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Prime Ministers of Portugal}}
{{Presidents of the European Council}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Socrates, Jose}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Portugal]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)]]
[[Category:Portuguese agnostics]]
[[Category:Portuguese engineers]]
[[Category:Presidents of the European Council]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of Portugal]]
[[Category:Social Democratic Party (Portugal) politicians]]
[[Category:Socialist Party (Portugal) politicians]]
[[Category:People from Alijó]]
[[Category:People from Covilhã]]
[[Category:Portuguese criminals]]
[[Category:Portuguese prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 1st Class]]
[[Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned]]
| |||