Spain to crack down on corrupt politicians after spate of scandals
Spain is to crack down on corrupt MPs and mayors after a spate of scandals that have shaken the already frail public faith in the country’s political establishment.
Obligatory prison sentences will be proposed for public servants convicted of corruption, under reform of the present criminal law. The change, to be unveiled by the ruling Socialist Government today, is to be debated in Parliament but is not expected to face opposition. The move comes after a series of big corruption cases linked to the decade-long building boom.
Mayors were often tempted to issue illegal building licences to unscrupulous developers in return for cash, cars or other favours. In some cases, Britons who bought holiday villas discovered later that their dream homes were built illegally. In the most notorious case Juan Antonio Roca, the former head of urban planning at Marbella, allegedly ran the city council like his personal fiefdom for years, raking in millions in bribes.
When the scandal broke in 2006 the entire Marbella city council had to be dissolved by central Government after Roca and scores of civil servants, developers and lawyers siphoned off €512 million (£466 million) from civic coffers.
Police who raided Roca’s luxury villa in Marbella found a Miró painting hanging in the toilet, hunting trophies on the walls and a stable full of starving thoroughbred horses.
Roca and 99 others, including Countess Sandra von Bismarck, a distant relative of the German Iron Chancellor, are to stand trial this year accused of corruption.
Meanwhile, a political fixer who styled himself on the fictional godfather Vito Corleone was at the centre of the biggest political scandal for years.
For weeks last year Spaniards thrilled to new revelations about Francisco Correa, who allegedly greased palms in the right-wing Popular Party, handing out cars, €20,000 (£18,455) watches and wads of banknotes in return for public contracts.
Investigators claim that 17 politicians received €5.5 million between them. Many could now face jail if convicted.
The succession of high-profile scandals and smaller corruption cases in town halls around Spain has had its impact on how Spaniards perceive their political class.
Recent surveys for the Centre for Sociological Investigations found that corruption was a growing concern for Spaniards.
In November and December corruption became the third most important concern, after unemployment and the economy — and ahead of terrorism.
Spain fell to 32nd place in Transparency International’s 2009 world ranking of open government, down from 28th place in 2008.
Professor Jesus Lizcano, the president of Transparency International in Spain, said: “I would prefer more openness than greater penalties as I think this would reform the system better.
“One problem is in the Latin world there is a greater permissiveness towards wrongdoing here. Seventy per cent of mayors who were convicted of corruption were voted back in to power in Spain.”
Under current Spanish law a public official who accepts a bribe can receive a jail term of between one and nine years and be fined three times the value of the bribe. They may also be banned from public office for up to 12 years.
However, in some cases bribery is not classed as criminal offence but rather an “unjust act”, which can result in prison sentences of one and three years and lesser fines.
Despite earlier reforms, commentators believe local councils are not open enough. Jose Maria Vals, of Tiempo de Hoy magazine, said: “The councils continue not to conform to a 2007 law which made it obligatory to inform the public of their actions.”
Details of the Government’s crackdown have not been made clear.