The PSOE, a political party in Spain, is acting as a popular accuser in the case of the “B box,” which involved the PP party financing itself illegally for almost 20 years from 1990 to 2009. They have sent a written request to the Supreme Court to review documentation from a court in Tarragona regarding alleged maneuvers by the Ministry of Finance, led by Cristobal Montoro at the time, to undermine Judge Pablo Ruz – the investigator in the Gürtel case – and prevent the PP from being convicted of tax evasion. The conflict arose when Judge Ruz asked tax experts to assess the amount of fraud committed by the PP for not declaring illegal donations as income, but the Ministry of Finance disagreed, claiming these donations did not need to be declared in corporate tax statements.
The document submitted by the PSOE comes after the Supreme Court supposedly deliberated on appeals against the ruling from the National Court that sentenced the former PP treasurer, Luis Bárcenas, and an architectural firm for using undeclared funds in the party’s headquarters renovation project. The ruling also determined that the PP had been financed with illegal donations, holding the party liable for the crimes committed by its treasurer. The PSOE is now asking the Supreme Court to obtain and analyze emails seized from Montoro’s associates in order to potentially annul the ruling on the “B box” case and return it to the National Court for a new trial with a different composition.
The PSOE believes that the seized emails demonstrate the lack of impartiality of the tax experts and their failure to serve the public interest by defending the particular interests of the PP. The emails reveal discussions within the Ministry on how to deal with the legal threat to the PP, with officials asserting that there were no tax implications for the party despite irregular financing practices. The statements made in these emails suggest a coordinated effort within the Ministry to avoid criminal charges against the PP by manipulating legal interpretations and withholding information from the courts.
The messages from the emails show a pattern of reassurance to Montoro and PP officials that there would be no criminal liability for the party’s financial practices, even in cases where illegal donations were received. The alleged coordination between the Ministry of Finance, the Tax Agency, and the Attorney General’s Office to shield the PP from legal consequences raises concerns about the integrity of the judicial process and the independence of law enforcement agencies. The revelation of these communications underscores the need for transparency and accountability in handling cases of political corruption and financial misconduct.
The PSOE’s efforts to uncover and challenge the potential interference in the legal proceedings related to the “B box” case highlight the longstanding issues of corruption and lack of accountability in Spanish politics. The revelations from the seized communications shed light on the complex web of relationships and interests that often shape decision-making at the highest levels of government and the judiciary. By calling attention to these actions and seeking judicial review, the PSOE aims to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served without political interference or manipulation.
