Spanish opposition calls on prime minister to resign
Leaders of opposition parties in Spain have called on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign immediately after the country's El Mundo (The World) newspaper revealed on July 14 that Mr. Rajoy had received money from a slush fund while serving in the previous government.
Leaders of opposition parties in Spain have called on Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to resign immediately after the country's El Mundo (The World) newspaper revealed on July 14 that Mr. Rajoy had received money from a slush fund while serving in the previous government.
The information has shocked Prime Minister Rajoy's ruling People's Party (PP) and further reduced the prestige of the country's leader, who is facing a lot of pressure due to the government's "belt-tightening" policies.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is under pressure to resign. (Source: AFP/VNA)
According to El Mundo, between May 2011 and March 2013, Rajoy repeatedly sent text messages to the former PP treasurer, Luis Barcenas, who is currently in prison on charges related to illegal financial activities of the party headed by Rajoy. In addition to expressing support, encouragement and asking for patience from Luis Barcenas, Rajoy in a text message sent in January 2013 said: "Luis, I understand. Try, I will call you tomorrow..."
Previously, Mr. Luis Barcenas, a key financial planner of PP for two decades, was suspected of running a slush fund funded by corporate and company owners, and in many forms, money from this fund was secretly transferred to PP members.
Among those who received "salaries" from the slush fund in 1997-1999 was Mr. Rajoy, when he was a minister under Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Two large payments were made to Mr. Rajoy's account in 1998, amounting to $54,000.
In addition to the tax evasion and money laundering allegations, Mr. Barcenas is also under investigation by Spanish police after it was discovered that he had about $69.9 million in Swiss bank accounts. Before his arrest last week, Mr. Barcenas admitted in an interview on July 7 that the PP had been involved in illegal financial activities for 20 years. However, the PP and Mr. Rajoy have denied these allegations.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party in Spain, PSOE, in addition to asking Mr. Rajoy to resign immediately, has severed all ties with PP after an emergency meeting held on July 14./.
According to (TTXVN) - DT
