Montero denies corruption in her ministry amid renewed attacks from the PP

MadridThe day after crashing into the wall of the PP over the financing reform And while José Manuel Albares was speaking about Venezuela in Congress, María Jesús Montero had to appear in the Senate – forced by the Popular Party's absolute majority – to give explanations about the SEPI caseA sealed investigation by the National Court into the awarding of public contracts has been launched. The First Vice President of the Spanish government defended "the honor, responsibility, and prestige" of SEPI, a state-owned company attached to the Ministry of Finance that acts as the... State investment armMontero defended the procedures, stating they were "correct." She emphasized that, "for now," it cannot be said that "any irregularities have been committed" or that "any file has been discovered that was processed in a manner different from the law," and she emphatically endorsed SEPI's actions: "There is no political responsibility whatsoever within SEPI, nothing can be attributed to it." The People's Party (PP) wanted to start the year by focusing on the alleged corruption cases surrounding—and implicating—the Spanish government, but—less than two kilometers away—Moncloa Palace has chosen to highlight Pedro Sánchez's international policy with the Foreign Minister's appearance before the lower house to discuss Donald Trump. The one at the center of the storm is Vicente Fernández Guerrero, who was president of SEPI during Pedro Sánchez's first year in office and was arrested a month ago. María Jesús Montero has indicated that the Civil Guard is investigating the period between 2021 and 2023, two years after Vicente Fernández resigned as president of SEPI: he stepped down after being summoned as a suspect in the Aznalcóllar mine case, from which he was ultimately acquitted. "It was in no way during this period that these individuals held political responsibilities in any of this government's institutions," she emphasized. "We find it repugnant that there are people who can use politics for financial gain, but we must be able to clearly define who should be held accountable before the law and not tarnish the institutions," the Minister of Finance also requested. Having said this, María Jesús Montero asked the People's Party (PP) to stop "spreading insidious rumors" about the "commendable work" done by SEPI employees: "Respect the work of the courts, respect the work of public companies, and do not try to smear all their efforts." He also launched a scathing attack against the PP's use of its absolute majority in the Senate. He accused the Popular Party of bringing the upper house into disrepute and distrust, and of turning it into the "ultimate symbol of anti-politics." "They are only interested in fighting the government, without caring in the slightest how it affects the health of democratic institutions," he reproached them. And he accused them of being "capable of anything" to "obstruct" the Spanish government and of wanting to bring down the coalition government "through civil or criminal proceedings."

"Either an accomplice, an accomplice, or negligent"

The PP has taken the opportunity to attack María Jesús Montero and to make a totum revolutumIn her remarks, she included references to Plus Ultra, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and Paco Salazar. "Pedro Sánchez surrounded himself with people useful for committing crimes and looting, a government prepared to steal," declared the leader of the People's Party in the Senate, Alicia García. She dubbed Montero the "vice president of the bribes" and the "minister of the SEPI black hole," reproaching her for presenting herself as a "mere spectator" of what was happening at SEPI: "She is either a participant, an accomplice, or negligent. Or all three." "Spain cannot afford a state captured by its corruption," she concluded.

In her rebuttal, Montero attacked the PP for resorting to "dehumanization" out of "simple electoral fear"—given that she is a candidate in this year's elections in Andalusia—and told the Popular Party that they cannot "present a single piece of evidence or indication that the contracts..." Since the explanations have not satisfied the Popular Party, they will pursue legal action to create a commission of inquiry into SEPI and have announced that they will summon María Jesús Montero, warning her that "sooner or later" she will have to answer to the courts.

On behalf of ERC, Sara Bailac lamented that the PP "remains silent, minimizes, or protects" corruption within its ranks and asked María Jesús Montero to "understand the moment" and "rise to the occasion" to "act decisively," with "maximum transparency." From Junts, Teresa Pallarès lamented that the cases of alleged corruption represent an "enormous loss of credibility" for the Spanish government and "the entire political class." These are "absolutely deplorable and very disappointing" cases that "illustrate the problems of centralism in the management of resources."