Spanish police carried out searches at the headquarters of Partido Socialista (PSOE) in Madrid this Wednesday in an operation aimed at investigating a possible illegal financing scheme. The simultaneous action involved sweeps in several locations, including the homes of former party leaders and businesspeople related to the case. Agentes collected statements from people involved in the investigation.
Operação covers homes and business owners
The Spanish authorities carried out searches at the homes of Madrid of former socialist leader Gaspar Zarrías and Santos Cerdán, also a former member of the PSOE leadership. Businessman Javier Pérez Dolset also had his residence searched. The breadth of the operation indicates that the investigation involves multiple agents in different sectors.
Corruption Esquema under investigation
The case investigates an alleged corruption scheme that resulted in arrests in December. Authorities arrested Leire Díez, the former president of SEPI (Sociedade Estatal of Participações Industriais) Vicente Fernández Guerrero and Basque businessman Antxon Alonso, owner of the company Servinabar. The 3 suspects are accused of:
- Abuso power
- Peculato
- Tráfico of influences
- Associação criminal
Investigadores point out that the suspects used a WhatsApp group called “Hirurok” to communicate about the alleged illicit schemes.
Contratos fraud totals 132 million euros
The investigation identifies 5 allegedly fraudulent contracts and subsidies involving amounts close to 132 million euros. Múltiplas companies and public entities appear in the scheme. Entre they are Mercosa, Enusa, Parque Empresarial Principado of Asturias (PEPA), Sepides, Servinabar, Forestalia and Tubos Reunidos. Esta last received a €112.8 million ransom approved in 2021 and is now being investigated for possible fraud.
Reação politics divides parliament
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the opposition, once again called for early elections after the operation, considering the situation “desperate”. The politician warned of the risk of spreading the political crisis caused by investigations involving figures from the socialist government.
No Parlamento, Economia’s deputy prime minister and minister, Carlos Cuerpo, responded by stating that the government advocates “zero tolerance” against any illegal behavior. Cuerpo stressed the need to respect ongoing judicial processes and maintained the presumption of innocence for those investigated.