Protection against the health crisis
The Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) is working hard to protect the president of Congress, Francina Armengol, in the midst of the Koldo case. In addition, political responsibilities related to former Minister José Luis Ábalos, who is currently in the Mixed Group, are being addressed. The government of the Balearic Islands purchased masks worth close to four million euros from a company involved in a scheme of illegal commissions. This situation has generated a serious crisis in both the PSOE and the Spanish government.
The purchase of defective masks
According to the latest information, the Balearic government certified the contract with the company Soluciones de Gestión despite knowing that the masks were defective. This allowed the investigated company to continue participating in public tenders. Although the batch of defective masks could not be used, the Balearic government did not claim the money until three years later. The Armengol executive opened a file before his departure, but the current government of Marga Prohens (PP) let the claim expire.
The political implications
Although neither Ábalos nor Armengol are being investigated, the appearance of their names in the case has been used by the Popular Party (PP) to raise doubts about the involvement of the socialist leaders and create instability in Pedro Sánchez’s government. Armengol’s entourage has denied any pressure to withdraw the claim for defective medical supplies and has insisted that the Prohens government has been asked to continue with the file.
The resignation request
The PP has requested Armengol’s immediate resignation, accusing her of accepting and paying for defective medical supplies that put people’s lives at risk. It is also noted that the masks were paid for with European funds, despite being prohibited, and that they were stored despite being unusable. The popular ones believe that Armengol opened the file to claim the money just before her departure to protect himself politically.
Armengol’s response
Armengol’s entourage has denied all the accusations and has stated that the president of Congress never spoke about the masks with Ábalos. Furthermore, they have insisted that Armengol has asked the Prohens government to continue with the file and they wonder why the PP has kept the case until it has declined.
The position of the PP
The Popular Party accuses the regional government of being aware of and actively collaborating in an alleged scam. They consider that defective medical supplies were accepted and paid for despite knowing that they did not protect against Covid-19. They also point out that the masks were paid for with European funds, despite being prohibited, and that they were stored despite being unusable. The popular ones believe that Armengol opened the file to claim the money just before his departure to protect himself politically.
The ongoing investigation
Although Armengol and Ábalos are not being investigated, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has sent the contracts from the Koldo case to the European Prosecutor’s Office. This shows the seriousness of the situation and the importance of clarifying the facts.
