On Monday, Francina Armengol clarified at the beginning of her appearance before the committee investigating mask purchases during the pandemic that she was not there as the President of Congress. This was the first time that a person holding the third highest position in the Spanish government had been subjected to such questioning. Armengol, who previously served as President of the Balearic Islands, was being questioned about the purchase of masks worth 3.7 million euros from a company associated with Koldo García, a former advisor to the Ministry of Transport accused of receiving illegal commissions. Armengol admitted to having had some contact with García but stated that it was never about mask purchases.
Armengol had previously faced scrutiny from the PP over the mask purchase scandal and had given explanations in a press conference in March. The question of who had recommended the company, Soluciones de Gestión, to her government in spring 2020 had remained unanswered until a witness, the former Health Director of her government, revealed that he had been contacted by the Ministry of Transport with the suggestion to purchase masks. Armengol emphasized multiple times during her testimony that she had never given any specific company contracts and had not been involved in the decision-making process.
During her appearance before the committee, Armengol defended herself against accusations from members of the PP and Vox, who accused her of lying and being complicit in corruption. Armengol strongly denied any involvement in corrupt activities and expressed her disdain for political corruption. She acknowledged the challenges faced during the pandemic but maintained that she had always acted with integrity. The tension during the questioning was evident, with members of the opposition parties trying to discredit her and imply wrongdoing.
Armengol was specifically questioned about the delay in reclaiming funds from the company after it was discovered that the masks were not as promised. She explained that the delay was due to administrative backlog caused by the pandemic and accused the current PP government of allowing the statute of limitations to expire on the claim. Questions were also raised about the certification of receipt of the masks, which Armengol and Negueruela defended as a routine procedure. The discussion revealed inconsistencies and unresolved issues surrounding the mask purchase scandal.
Some members of the committee approached the questioning with caution, seeking clarity on the situation rather than making direct accusations. Armengol faced scrutiny over her role in the scandal, with some members questioning her level of involvement and decision-making. Despite the challenging environment, Armengol stood by her statements and urged for a more constructive and respectful approach to political discourse. The tense questioning highlighted the complexity of the mask purchase scandal and the need for transparency and accountability in government procedures.
