You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Spanish government drains emergency fund: 300 million under scrutiny
300 million from Spain's Ministry of Education diverted from the emergency fund: trips to the Dominican Republic and opaque spending. The opposition warns of a major mess ahead.
Spanish government drains emergency fund: 300 million from the Ministry of Education under scrutiny
Where did the emergency funds go? A leaked report suggests the Spanish government diverted money meant for disasters into opaque spending. The most striking figure: 300 million euros allegedly taken from the Ministry of Education. According to the accusations, the money was spent on "little extras" that have nothing to do with its original purpose, including trips to the Dominican Republic.
The hole in the public accounts
Criticism focuses on the management of the contingency funds, designed for emergencies such as wildfires or floods. Meanwhile, opposition leader Feijóo says that next year the government will face an "apocalyptic mess", the legacy of a management style they call a "money-shredding machine". Last week, data was leaked on 300 million taken from the education budget, with no convincing explanation offered.
The political reaction
The debate has become polarised. Those denouncing the corruption point out that "flights to the DR don't pay for themselves", in reference to alleged entertainment expenses. On the other hand, sectors close to the government argue these are legal budget reallocations, though they offer no details.
Given this track record, the next emergency alert is expected to be... epic.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication.
Read the full discussion (22 replies).
Spain's prime minister has given himself five days to decide whether to call an early general election, with Monday set as the key date for an announcement.
On Saturday 3 October Madrid hosts two rival events: the antifascist camp at Puerta del Sol and a rally at Alcalá 21 under the banner of decent housing.