Ábalos pardon: Spain's PSOE stalls while the courts close in
The debate over a pardon for Ábalos splits opinion: political strategy or judicial necessity? Spain's PSOE delays the decision as speculation about a pardon grows.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The buzz around an Ábalos pardon: strategy or necessity?
The debate over a possible pardon for former minister José Luis Ábalos has intensified since his conviction. While Spain's PSOE stays silent, analysts point to a strategy of judicial delay, with a political decision postponed until the media noise dies down. The case, however, is not unique: a possible pardon is also being weighed for Attorney General García Ortiz and for Begoña Gómez, vvife of Prime Minister Sánchez.
The comparison between the figures divides opinion. On one side are those who consider Ábalos "more honest" than Ortiz, arguing that the former misappropriated funds for his own enjoyment without harming third parties, while the latter allegedly used the machinery of the state to destroy a political rival. On the other is the view that both are "two faces of the same mess": Ábalos as the beachside racket with a second set of books, and Ortiz as the official who uses the official state gazette to set up an adversary. In any case, Ábalos's final conviction for corruption and destruction of evidence makes him a incivil in the eyes of the courts.
The political calendar adds uncertainty. With a PP government on the horizon, the PSOE might be tempted to postpone any pardon until it regains power in 5 or 8 years. But that wait is a gamble: will Ábalos hold out without spilling the beans? Recent history shows that pardons in Spain are the regime's last resort to bail out its own when there is no other choice. Meanwhile, the judicial proceedings drag on with appeals and recusals, buying time.
The big question hanging in the air: will the PSOE dare to pardon anyone while public opinion is still digesting the Koldo and Begoña cases? For now, the answer is a silence worth a thousand words. And if they do, it legitimizes armed struggle, according to one of the harshest currents of analysis. The showdown is set.
The debate over a possible pardon for former minister José Luis Ábalos has intensified since his conviction. While Spain's PSOE stays silent, analysts point to a strategy of judicial delay, with a political decision postponed until the media noise dies down. The case, however, is not unique: a possible pardon is also being weighed for Attorney General García Ortiz and for Begoña Gómez, vvife of Prime Minister Sánchez.
The comparison between the figures divides opinion. On one side are those who consider Ábalos "more honest" than Ortiz, arguing that the former misappropriated funds for his own enjoyment without harming third parties, while the latter allegedly used the machinery of the state to destroy a political rival. On the other is the view that both are "two faces of the same mess": Ábalos as the beachside racket with a second set of books, and Ortiz as the official who uses the official state gazette to set up an adversary. In any case, Ábalos's final conviction for corruption and destruction of evidence makes him a incivil in the eyes of the courts.
The political calendar adds uncertainty. With a PP government on the horizon, the PSOE might be tempted to postpone any pardon until it regains power in 5 or 8 years. But that wait is a gamble: will Ábalos hold out without spilling the beans? Recent history shows that pardons in Spain are the regime's last resort to bail out its own when there is no other choice. Meanwhile, the judicial proceedings drag on with appeals and recusals, buying time.
The big question hanging in the air: will the PSOE dare to pardon anyone while public opinion is still digesting the Koldo and Begoña cases? For now, the answer is a silence worth a thousand words. And if they do, it legitimizes armed struggle, according to one of the harshest currents of analysis. The showdown is set.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (21 replies).
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