The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has acknowledged that he considers the case affecting former minister José Luis Ábalos and former adviser Koldo García with "rage, disappointment, and sadness." At the same time, he has defended the "firmness" shown by the PSOE in "separating" them from the responsibilities they held at the time, emphasizing that both no longer hold "any public office" and do not belong to the socialist organization.
These statements were made by him this Friday during an information breakfast of Fórum Europa Tribuna Mediterránea, which was introduced by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities and Secretary General of the PSPV, Diana Morant. His words come a day after agents of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil deployed an operation linked to a separate secret piece of the 'Koldo case' in the National Court (Audiencia Nacional), which has included a search at the home of the former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos in València and a request for information to Adif.
Arcadi España has highlighted that the PSOE made "very harsh decisions before many facts were known" and has insisted that these people – like Ábalos and Koldo – "are no longer in any public office or in our organization." In his view, the party acted "with transparency" and with "absolute cooperation with justice," which "will determine all these actions."
Asked whether the UCO operation within the framework of the new separate piece of the 'Koldo case' being heard by the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) could have an electoral impact for the PSOE in the upcoming general elections on November 29, Arcadi España responded that the possible political cost "will be decided by the citizens" at the ballot boxes.
"Zero corruption does not exist; what does exist is the way to tackle it," the minister defended. In this vein, he urged the rest of political formations to "make a reflection" and "follow the example" of the PSOE in episodes of this kind.
"Let each one add to the dotted line"
In relation to the fact that this new operation became known just a few days before the start of the campaign, Arcadi España encouraged that each person "adds to the dotted line and draws their conclusions."
Also asked whether the latest developments in the case could condition the PSOE campaign, he has warned that PP and Vox “are going to want to muddy up” the election contest and has recalled that they already tried to do so with “ill-mannered” videos in which artificial intelligence (AI) is used.
In view of that scenario, he has defended the need to “talk for real about the problems of citizens,” convinced that this is the ground of debate on which the PSOE feels “comfortable.”