Europe criticizes Spain for “lack of determination” in the fight against corruption

Europe criticizes Spain for “lack of determination” in the fight against the corruption of members of the government and high state officials, and the reaction of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after the last corruption scandal is insufficient – wrote the daily El Mundo in the Saturday editorial commentary.

The newspaper referred to the report of a group of states against corruption (Greco), appointed by the Council of Europe, which shows that Spain still does not fully apply to any of the 19 recommendations, issued six years ago. Despite some improvement, the government's reaction in Madrid in the fight against corruption is “insufficient”.

“The report presented a very negative balance in its analysis of anti -corruption funds adopted by the Spanish government in recent years,” commented “El Mundo”.

Greco, the institution of the Council of Europe monitoring the law of individual countries in terms of the fight against corruption, is particularly concerned about “the lack of determination and tangible results in relation to the recommendations issued in relation to the higher executive functions of the central government.”

The report emphasized, among others Lack of sufficient restrictions on the transition of state officials to private enterprises or regulations on lobbyists. The latest corrupt scandal in Spain, the so -called The Montoro case is about taking bribes from lobbyists, including from the energy sector, by the former Minister of Finance in conservative governments – Cristobal Montoro.

As “El Mundo” emphasized, government plans in the areas indicated by Greco “are projects or even preliminary projects” that will not see the light of daytime during this parliamentary term due to the “obvious parliamentary weakness of the executive power.” The Sanchez government has no stable majority in parliament, and the next elections are to take place only in 2027.

In recent weeks, the Spanish political scene will shake a serious corruption scandal in the prime minister's surroundings. Santos Cerdan, one of his closest associates, was arrested; He is accused of participating in managing an organized criminal group, bribery and the use of political influence.

Among the persons covered by the investigation is also, among others Former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, as well as the wife of Prime Minister Begon Gomez, accused of corruption and the use of political influence.

In response to the scandal in the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the role of Cerdan, Sanchez presented in July in the parliament the state plan to fight corruption, which contains a total of 15 funds, including tightening of penalties, the establishment of the agency for counteracting corruption, preventing companies convicted of corruption of new contracts with public administration, strengthening the protecting of the signalist or the protection of public administration, strengthen The use of artificial intelligence in a public procurement platform.

Corruption is a constant problem in Spain. In 2018, one of the largest corruption scandals in the history of the country, known as the Guertel scandal, contributed to the collapse of the government of Mariano Rajoy from the People's Party, which was initiated by several years of PSOE rule.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

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