Anticorruption Prosecutors Office Rejects PP’s Allegations Against PSOE Amid Growing Political Turmoil
The Anticorruption Prosecutors Office has recently dismissed a complaint filed by the Popular Party (PP) against the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), alleging illegal funding through undisclosed cash deliveries. This complaint involved accusations that PSOE received money in plastic bags at their national headquarters. The Office stated that there was insufficient evidence to warrant an investigation into these claims.
Judge Santiago Pedraz has been informed of this dismissal. He is currently overseeing a broader investigation into alleged fraud amounting to 182 million euros, which includes the Koldo case concerning hydrocarbon licensing, and also involves the implicated commissioner, Víctor de Aldama. On the previous Monday, the PP brought forth allegations of irregular funding against the PSOE, leaning on two anonymous testimonies sourced from a news article, which detailed supposed cash deliveries totaling 90,000 euros in plastic bags at PSOE’s Ferraz Street headquarters in Madrid during October 2020. This information derived from an unidentified businessman, whose distorted voice was featured in a recording, allegedly connecting this cash delivery to the acquisition of an administrative license for fuel distribution by a company named Villafuel.
Parallel to this, the ongoing inquiry into hydrocarbon fraud, initiated by the PP's complaints, corresponds with the Koldo case that scrutinizes commissions and irregularities linked to public contracts, notably for masks during the pandemic. The Anticorruption Agency asserts there is evidence of multiple crimes, particularly concerning former minister José Luis Ábalos. Due to his status as a deputy, he is protected by parliamentary immunity, leading the Agency to seek authorization from the Supreme Court to advance the investigation.
Within the ranks of the PP, skepticism abounds regarding the likelihood of success for their complaint. An ex-minister from the government of Mariano Rajoy expressed reservations on the effectiveness of the complaint in the Koldo case, emphasizing that it may not be the most appropriate legal strategy. He noted that it remains uncertain whether the court would choose to accept or dismiss the complaint, which could ultimately backfire on the party.
Concerns over the legal approach taken by the PP have been echoed by various members of the party, particularly at their headquarters located on Génova Street 13. Some officials have articulated that party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo needed to address the issue but questioned the complaint’s potential effectiveness. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, amplified the stakes, asserting that this case points to a more extensive corruption scandal involving numerous government personnel, including insinuations of mishandling public funds at the highest levels of government.
Moreover, Ayuso's statements hinted at a possible overarching scheme implicating seven ministries and an ambassador stationed in Venezuela, suggesting connections to the Venezuelan government. Despite uncertainties surrounding the complaint, the PP remains hopeful for progress, particularly with the analysis of 170 digital devices seized related to the case, aiming to compel Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to testify in the Senate's investigation committee.
In defense of the complaint, Ester Muñoz, Deputy Secretary of Health and Education of the PP, reiterated the need for accountability, drawing parallels to other prominent cases that began as mere hypotheses but evolved into significant judicial inquiries. Muñoz contended that initial claims against Sánchez’s circle were dismissed as fabrications but have since gained traction.
In response to a comment by Vox leader Santiago Abascal on the PP’s alignment with their judicial actions, Muñoz clarified that the PP’s objective is independent; they are not intending to compete but rather to demand accountability from the government, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations against the PSOE.
Related Sources: