The parliamentary commission approved in March to investigate the emergency contracts signed by “all administrations” during the 2020 pandemic in Spain has been closed without proposing conclusions or calling 72% of the 134 scheduled witnesses. The Socialist party tried to extend the investigations towards the environment of the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, and the president of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, but was unsuccessful. Coalition Canaria, along with the Popular Party and Vox, vetoed the extension in retaliation to disputes with the central government of Pedro Sanchez over immigration issues in the Canary Islands. Two new commissions of investigation will be launched by Congress on Thursday, focusing on the 2017 terrorist attacks in Cambrils and Barcelona, and the Operation Catalonia and patriotic police from the PP governments.
Over the past four months, the commission investigating the errors and irregularities in contracts signed during the pandemic has held 15 sessions, called 21 of the 134 scheduled witnesses (28.1%), and obtained 237 of the 369 requested documents (73.6%). The Popular Party used the initial meetings to question Koldo García, former adviser to socialist minister Jose Luis Ábalos, and other officials in an attempt to criticize the government of Pedro Sánchez. The Socialist party intended to investigate similar issues related to contracts in administrations governed by the PP, but lacked sufficient allies in the commission to proceed. The commission only managed to call on a few officials from the current Popular Party government of Baleares led by Marga Prohens.
Efforts to resume the work of the commission were blocked by the Popular Party, Vox, and Coalition Canaria last week. Coalition Canaria, representing the diverse Mixto Group in the commission, cited disputes regarding immigration issues and the treatment of unaccompanied minors in the Canary Islands as reasons for the veto. The Canarian government has expressed frustration with the lack of response from the central government on this urgent and critical issue. The decision to halt the commission’s work was seen as a message to the central government to pay more attention to the concerns of the Canarian population in future discussions and votes.
The Socialist party acknowledges the abrupt end of the commission and doubts the possibility of recreating it in the future without sufficient support from potential allies. The closure of the commission without reaching concrete conclusions has raised concerns about accountability and transparency in government actions, especially regarding the handling of emergency contracts during the pandemic. The decision to close the commission has implications for future investigative efforts and the ability to hold officials accountable for their actions. The political dynamics and rivalries between different parties have hindered the progress of the commission and raised questions about the effectiveness of parliamentary investigations in addressing critical issues.
