The Council of Ministers has given the green light to a Royal Decree-Law on transparency and integrity of interest groups. That is to say, the Government has approved the lobbying law, a regulation that had been postponed for decades despite demands in the matter such as those from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe.
Last year, the Executive already approved a draft law in this regard that remains blocked in the Commission of Finance and Public Function and that has already accumulated about twenty extensions of amendments.
The indictment of former president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for up to four alleged crimes, including influence peddling, in the 'Plus Ultra Case' reopened the debate about where lobbying ends and influence peddling begins, and again highlighted Spain's shortcomings in this regard. With this regulation, the Government aims to align our country with the EU where this activity is widely recognized and regulated.
NEWS IN EXPANSION