Portugal: Ex-PM José Socrates held in corruption probe

Portugal: Ex-PM José Socrates held in corruption probe


Portugal’s former socialist prime minister José Socrates has been arrested over an investigation into tax fraud, money laundering and corruption.
The public prosecutor’s office says the inquiry centres on bank operations and money transfers from an unknown source.


More here plus video......


http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/22/portugal-ex-pm-jose-socrates-held-in-corruption-probe/

Excellent.

Is there some hope that this is why Operation Grange is taking so long? I`m convinced these tentacles of corruption are all linked up somehow.

Wasn't this the prime minister that met Brown about the McCann case? If I'm right then it really doesn't take a huge jump of imagination to see how this case got into the shape it is today.

I have occasionally mentioned over the years on the other site that what the UK government are accused of doing in this case would require complete complicity from the Portuguese side.

That there is hardly any scrutiny of the Portuguese side always bothered me. I don't think I'm being unreasonable here am I?

1st of July 2007 - Portugal took rotating presidency of the EU

It must have been in the interest of all parties in the bloc to keep things running smooth between member states.

There to my mind is the interference 'from high up'.

Less to do with funny handshakes and rocking horses - a lot more to do with what Willy Brandt termed

realpolitik

Amaral was the expendable pawn in that particular game

Is it a coincidence,can it be a coincidence,if reports are true about Murat being interviewed,OG are now at the core or close to it of the case,a new prosecutor on the block and suddenly someone who may well know why the case was archived is arrested.It was said the Portuguese judiciary was in a state because of various reasons,obviously not in such a state to be able to collate evidence to effect an arrest here.

This is a very good link:

http://www.gerrymccannsblogs.co.uk/press/83march14/portocanal_14_03_2014.htm

Interview with Dr. Amaral. It was the time of the preparations for the Lisbon Treaty and iirc there was a rumour then that Brown had some hold over Socrates because he'd taken backhanders in a business deal with the UK.
Standard practice often enough, but...useful.

Treaty was signed in December.

Coincidence?

http://news.sky.com/story/1378498/sky-sources-ex-pm-gordon-brown-to-quit-as-mp

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Gordon Brown is poised to announce that he is to quit as an MP at the next election after 32 years in the Commons, Sky sources have revealed.

One close colleague predicted he may write to Labour Party members in his Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency as early as the next few days and make a formal announcement before Christmas.

"Gordon always holds a function for his party members at Christmas and if I were a betting man, I would bet that he will make an announcement then," the source told Sky News.

Another senior source told Sky News: "I'm reliably informed he will make an announcement in the coming weeks."

The former prime minister's decision to step down as an MP has been widely expected, though the timing of his announcement has been influenced by his starring role in the recent Scottish referendum campaign.

There is a tendency for us to assume that everything is to do with the McCanns - but in this case, the coincidence really is extraordinary. I've said before that if Labour involvement in a cover-up can be hinted at (whether true or false), there is enormous political potential in it for the Conservative Party, and we are only 5 months or so before the next General Election. Timing is essential. First you need to reveal to the nation that they have been lied to and used for a long time. Let that simmer for a while, then let the newspapers leak stories about Labour involvement. Job done.

Nice line of thinking,Amaral said it could be solved once the political interference was gone,maybe just maybe it is.

wlbts wrote:There is a tendency for us to assume that everything is to do with the McCanns - but in this case, the coincidence really is extraordinary.  I've said before that if Labour involvement in a cover-up can be hinted at (whether true or false), there is enormous political potential in it for the Conservative Party, and we are only 5 months or so before the next General Election.   Timing is essential.  First you need to reveal to the nation that they have been lied to and used for a long time.  Let that simmer for a while, then let the newspapers leak stories about Labour involvement.  Job done.

Plus the political fallout if it transpires that those involved in signing the Lisbon Treaty are in some way compromised.

Andrew wrote:http://news.sky.com/story/1378498/sky-sources-ex-pm-gordon-brown-to-quit-as-mp

Didn't realise that Caricature already posted this last night.

Really need to go back to bed.

How come that Portugal waited such a  long time before arresting Socrates?

Did they wait on purpose, till the Yard would arrive at the climax short before Tapas 9  being quizzed?

I honestly believe everything to do with case is down to the timing. In my opinion too many things seem to be happening right now. Dr Amaral did say the case would come to a conclusion when the political interference was out of the way, or words to that effect. I just think with Gordon Brown leaving the political stage (so to speak) now and the arrest of Socrates is connected in some way.

I feel like crap because I don't understand all this political stuff! But reading friends' thoughts on it sounds like good things are happening.

This news being touted everywhere when in fact he was arrested back in 2014.

I had forgotten that Gordon Brown decided to quit as MP at the same time.

http://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/95445/leia_o_resumo_da_acusacao_contra_socrates_na_integra


Got those brackets again.....copied from Textusa blog

Bampots wrote:http://rr.sapo.pt/noticia/95445/leia_o_resumo_da_acusacao_contra_socrates_na_integra


Got those brackets again.....copied from Textusa blog

This is excellent news today Bampots re-Socrates. I have been closely following Alan Vinnecombe on fb 'Abscam" the Freeport connection just may be the missing link in this political saga.



N.B. Apologies I missed your birthday my friend,hope you had a good one!