SPAIN’S main opposition Popular Party (PP) is embroiled in the largest political corruption scandal since the restoration of democracy. Examining magistrate Antonio Pedreira has released his findings in a 50,000-page damning document involving senior PP officials in Valencia, Madrid, Galicia and Castilla y Leon.
The case, codenamed Operation Gurtel, was initiated over a year ago by high-profile judge Baltasar Garzon. He ordered the detention of 37 suspects with close links to Popular Party including a PP mayor and a former mayor of two prosperous Madrid suburbs.
Mr Garzon was removed from the case after it was alleged he was biased against the accused and of illegally tapping their mobile phones during consultations with their lawyers. He was replaced by Mr Pedreira, who found evidence of influence peddling, fraud and tax evasion, money laundering and receiving bribes in exchange for lucrative contracts for public works and for organising political meetings and social events, including the lavish wedding of one of the accused.
One of the most important names in the case is that of Luis Barcenas, a PP senator and party treasurer until last summer when his name first emerged. He was responsible for raising millions of euro for the party, some of it illegally. Evidence uncovered by the anti-corruption police found that “without a shadow of doubt” Senator Barcenas received illegal commissions of almost €1.3 million – much of which was transferred to secret “B accounts” in off-shore tax havens – for intervening in lucrative contracts for contacts.
Mr Barcenas, who enjoys parliamentary privilege, stepped down as treasurer last year, but continues to receive his salary, keeps his office in PP headquarters and the party is paying for a leading Madrid lawyer to defend him.
If Mr Barcenas maintains his party’s support, the same cannot be said for others whose names have surfaced in the Gurtel case. Jaume Matas, a minister in the Aznar government and former president of the government of the Balearic islands, was expelled from the party and is awaiting trial on a long list of corruption charges. Yesterday, he escaped jail by presenting €3 million in bail.
The godfather behind this web of corruption has been named as Francisco Correa, who is alleged to have amassed a huge fortune. When police searched his homes and offices, along with those of Pablo Crespo and Alvaro Perez, they seized a large quantity of jewellery, gold watches, a valuable coin collection, thousands of dollars and euro as well as computers and files. They also blocked 113 banks accounts and embargoed a luxury yacht, a dozen expensive cars and powerful motorcycles.