Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sought to protect his government’s actions, amid the first corruption scandal to hit his government since he took power in 2018.
Speaking informally on a plane with journalists covering his official stopover in Brazil and Chile, Sánchez admitted that the so-called “Koldo case”, which considers alleged bribes in government contracts for the acquisition of masks in the worst months of the Covid-19 pandemic . , he was “serious. “
However, he highlighted his party’s action in expelling a former minister implicated in the affair, José Luis Ábalos, and attacked the main opposition party, the Popular Party (PP), for what he called a “disinformation campaign. “
Sanchez also defended the moves of the president of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol. The socialist politician has been the target of attacks from the PP in recent days for her movements when she was president of the Balearic Government.
Its management bought millions of euros worth of masks from the company in the midst of the scandal, Management Solutions, because the winning parts were of lower quality than promised and not suitable for use by medical staff.
On Monday, the PP described Armengol as an ‘alleged necessary collaborator’ in the ‘fraud’ being investigated by the Spanish authorities.
“Armengol has my total support,” Sanchez told reporters from media outlets such as El Pais and Efe. “She has given explanations. Her administration sought to get back the money [for the masks],” he added, in reference to legal action begun by Armengol’s government three years after the items were received, and just as the PP was set to take power in the region.
Sánchez also stated that the “Koldo affair” was an isolated incident and criticized the PP for the corruption cases that have come to light in recent decades.
“This has served a lot in politics to set an example,” he told reporters. “There is no systemic corruption as there is in the PP. »
The prime minister, who governs in coalition with the leftist alliance Sumar, was speaking shortly after it emerged that current Transport Minister Oscar Puente had sacked the person who was in charge of buying masks from Soluciones de Gestion for use in Spain’s ports.
Álvaro Sánchez Manzanares, secretary general of the state-owned port company, was fired despite not being arrested in connection with the investigation. However, court documents related to the investigation include wiretaps of their conversations.
“We are giving the impression that we will act temporarily if there are cases [of corruption],” Sanchez said. “The PP cannot lecture us on this, but we will act decisively. There is widespread corruption among them. “
Sánchez came to power after winning a censure movement in 2018 against the then president of the PP, Mariano Rajoy. The petition filed following a High Court ruling found that an illegal financing scheme exists within the party.
The “Koldo affair” came to light on February 20, when another 20 people were arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard for their alleged involvement in the scandal.
The company at the centre of the case, Soluciones de Gestión (management solutions), had little to no activity before the pandemic.
However, due to the health emergency, it was awarded a government contract for the supply of 8 million masks at a cost of €20 million.
One of the key suspects in the case is Koldo Garcia, who was once the right-hand man of the former Socialist transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos.
Garcia is accused by prosecutors of having pocketed commissions of €1.5 million for acting as an intermediary in the deal. He is thought to have invested the funds in the purchase of three apartments and several plots of land.
Abalos has also been implicated in the scandal, although he has not so far been arrested or charged with any wrongdoing.
He has maintained his innocence since the scandal broke and has retained his seat as a congressman despite being expelled from the Socialist Party, which called on him to resign last week.
Instead of resigning as a legislator, he joined the mixed group, the combination of representatives from small parties in Congress, where he is now an independent.
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