Dozens of PSOE members and associates implicated in corruption cases
Around twenty judicial proceedings involve leaders, family members and collaborators of the party that governs Spain, including former president Zapatero.
Dozens of PSOE members and associates implicated in corruption cases
The socialist party that holds power in Spain faces intense judicial scrutiny. Nearly fifty individuals linked to the party—whether relatives of the head of government, party officials, close collaborators or institutional appointees—appear in files opened at various levels, in the capacity of investigated persons, accused parties or already convicted individuals.
The last month has proved particularly damaging. The criminal division of the National High Court has struck on two fronts: on one hand, it has made the former president, who served between 2004 and 2011, a subject of investigation; on the other, it has included in a separate section former heavyweights such as the former number three at Ferraz and the former deputy president of the Junta de Andalucía.
The investigating magistrate considers that former head of government Zapatero presided over a stable, pyramidal organisation whose objective was to obtain economic benefit by leveraging his position to mediate with public administrations, principally for the benefit of an airline company. His statement before the courts is scheduled for the coming weeks.
Simultaneously, another court at the same level could soon make public a far more serious scheme: the alleged financing with party funds of an operation to discredit judges, prosecutors and police officers who were investigating sensitive matters for the governing party.
The investigation into the face masks case during the pandemic has opened a parallel avenue regarding possible cash payments intended to conceal illicit profits. In this scheme feature a former transport minister and his former adviser, who are linked to the collection of bribes in emergency health contracts and public works.
The president's inner circle does not escape the maelstrom. His spouse has been called to testify before a Madrid court, which will decide whether to elevate her to trial for alleged abuse of her position. His brother, for his part, has been sitting in the dock since this week accused of occupying an invented position in a regional administration and receiving remuneration without attending his post.
The list of pending matters includes furthermore an investigation into alleged purchase of influence in the energy sector, the scandal involving a former parliamentarian arrested for extorting business owners in exchange for public aid, and tax fraud in the fuel market in which a million euros allegedly would have been invested to buy political favours.
Source: ABC
Source: ABC