Imogen Calderwood
FORMER PP treasurer Luis Barcenas has accused Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of knowing ‘from the beginning’ about illegal party payments.
Barcenas – who is at the centre of the slush-fund scandal that rocked the ruling party – made the claim after posting bail of €200,000 last week.
He has been locked in a jail near Madrid since June 2013, awaiting trial on charges including tax fraud and bribery.
The former treasurer stands accused of running the slush-fund, designed to channel kickbacks and party donations to senior party officials.
He was arrested after Swiss authorities revealed that he had millions of euros stashed in offshore accounts.
Rajoy sent Barcenas personal text messages, published by Spanish daily El Mundo, urging him to ‘be strong’ in standing up to the corruption allegations.
However, Barcenas’ relationship with the party went downhill after he was jailed and stopped insisting that the slush-fund never existed.
It has now become a case of Barcenas’ word against the prime minister’s, in a critical election year.
Rajoy has not responded to the latest accusation, but a government spokesman said no member of the government had been charged in the case and it was up to the judiciary to rule on the matter.
Barcenas is facing a prison sentence of 42 years, while Rajoy and the most senior members of his administration have yet to be threatened directly by the corruption allegations.
They turn on each other to save their own skins, like rabid dogs, can never see the day when Spain’s corruption ends if it starts from the top!
Mike,
how dare you write this – Squeaky Voice would never lie and you know that (why can’t we have smileys?).
Ya ya/Rev. Stevens/Squidgy/ and he who does’nt actually live in Spain will all be along shortly to berate you soundly.
“It has now become a case of Barcenas’ word against the prime minister’s (Rajoy), in a critical election year.” Barcenas faces 42 years in prison, Rajoy & other gov’t Officials are yet to face corruption allegations… another day in Spain & same stuf !
I bet if some newspaper/reporter could get an interview with Barcenas before the election, that interview would SELL MORE PAPERS IN ONE WEEK than the whole year! But like The Wise Men, “cover your back”!
A PRICELESS photo with comment on his expression that may read:
Zipper ? My what? – my pant’s zipper? OK, fixed it, thanks. More fotos!
And the beat goes on….