Demand grows for Spanish prime minister to resign
Spain’s Popular Party (PP) Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy faces growing public anger over his alleged involvement in the Bárcenas corruption scandal. ■ Under these conditions calls for his resignation by the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) have been joined by ones from Rajoy’s own party, from members concerned that the scandal is detracting from the imposition of austerity measures demanded by the European Union. ■ Calls for Rajoy’s resignation have grown after fresh evidence emerged last week showing that, despite previous denials, he remained in close contact with Luis Bárcenas, the PP former treasurer, currently on remand in jail charged with tax fraud, bribery and other crimes. ■ From 1990, Bárcenas worked in the PP’s accounts department, rising to the post of treasurer in 2008. During these years he amassed a fortune worth tens of millions of euros hidden in foreign bank accounts, which were used to channel illegal payments between leading businessmen and PP politicians in return for government contracts.