Bono: the Spanish socialist who shielded himself with a Dominican passport

Bono: the Spanish socialist who shielded himself with a Dominican passport

José Bono, a veteran of Spain's PSOE (the Socialist Party), has gone from being the very image of socialist austerity to embodying a paradox: amassing a considerable fortune while preaching moderation. The available evidence suggests that the former minister, a party member for more than four decades, has diversified his assets to the point of obtaining Dominican citizenship. A move that, according to analysts, is no coincidence: it would serve as a shield against potential legal proceedings in Spain, since the Dominican Republic does not extradite its own nationals.

The comparison with other major business figures is inevitable. While figures like Florentino Pérez are branded as unscrupulous capitalists, Bono has enjoyed benevolent treatment from the left. The difference, the argument goes, lies in the rhetoric: someone who wears the socialist label and flaunts his humility can accumulate wealth without raising suspicion. Or at least without his comrades demanding explanations.

The dual citizenship gambit is nothing new in Spanish politics, but in Bono's case it carries particular weight given his profile. If the United States ever decided to investigate him, the problem would be serious; if Spain did, the Dominican passport would allow him to dodge the justice system. A strategy that, if confirmed, reveals a calculation far removed from the image of a public servant he always projected.

In the end, the question that remains is whether Bono's socialism was genuine or simply his most profitable mask. Meanwhile, his fortune and his passport place him in an enviable position: no one will give him trouble, and if they do, he can always catch the first flight to Santo Domingo.