Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has admitted to MPs that he made a ‘mistake’ in trusting ‘someone who we now know did not deserve it’, a reference to former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas who is currently in jail on corruption charges.
However, Rajoy told MPs that claims he was corrupt were lies and manipulations, and once again defied calls for his resignation. He once again denied committing the criminal action of covering up for someone who is alleged to be guilty.
Mr Rajoy was appearing in parliament to answer claims over illegal payments from a slush fund run by the Popular Party’s ex-treasurer, Luis Barcenas, although he did make a failed attempt to divert the session to the Spanish economy. He suggested that the Spanish economy was beginning to recover from years of crisis, and expressed his concern that a continued focus on the scandal was damaging Spain’s image.
Rajoy added that Justice will show there was nothing illegal in his behaviour or that of his party.
It is, of course, not just one scandal that is affecting the image of Spain and its politicians, but several hundred.