The former first vice president of the Government and current leader of the Andalusian PSOE, María Jesús Montero, is summoned this Monday to the Senate's investigation committee on the State Industrial Holdings Company (SEPI), just a few days before the campaign for the Andalusian elections scheduled for next May 17 officially begins.
The absolute majority of the PP in the Upper House promoted that Montero be called to this newly created commission, arguing that the former vice president must “give explanations” about the “bottomless pit for corruption and waste that the SEPI has become.”
To date, this SEPI investigation commission has only held three sessions, in which the current president and vice-president of the organization, as well as the former president of the company, have appeared, focusing a good part of the PP's questioning on the Plus Ultra rescue.
Montero will thus face her second appearance before a Senate investigative committee, after having been previously summoned by the "Koldo commission" when she still held the Vice Presidency and the Ministry of Finance.
Controversy over the date of the summons
The main focus of controversy surrounding this appearance has been the timing chosen by the PP to summon María Jesús Montero, in full pre-campaign for the Andalusian elections in which she is running as the PSOE candidate.
The popular ones defend that the commission's work plan was registered more than two months ago and already included Montero among the first people called to testify.
For its part, the PSOE filed a complaint with the Central Electoral Board (JEC) requesting that the appearance of María Jesús Montero be suspended, as it coincided with the electoral race in Andalusia.
The JEC decided to file this PSOE claim, considering that it does not have the powers to annul the call for the commission nor to rule on the "opportunity" of its celebration on these dates.