Mason Jones (Reporter)
We asked four Olive Press readers their opinion on the scandal engulfing Spain.
Paul O’Connell, 56, a photographer from Mijas, believes that the PM should resign, saying that as well as allegations of corruption, Spain’s leader had plunged the country into ‘economic madness’.
“In light of these corruption charges, he should definitely step down.Although the truth is, Spain has been rife with corruption for the last 30 years, so it is difficult to know who can replace him?”
Martin Nathan, 60, chairman of Talk Radio Europe, in Marbella, said Rajoy should remain innocent until proven guilty and people should refrain from forming an opinion until all the evidence had been heard.
He said: “It is simply too early to make a judgement one way or another. He is maintaining that the allegations are untrue and before it is proved you can’t assume the allegations are true.”
Jackie Cornwall, 55, from Vejer de la Frontera, said: “We’ve seen from similar scandals in the UK that corruption is endemic in political life, but in the context of today’s uncertainties, he should only resign if something is proved against him.
“That’s assuming there is now a proper legal process to establish the truth, which might be too large an assumption.”
Adam Neale, 43, a real estate agent from Estepona, said: “It is certainly not looking good for Rajoy that is for sure.
“Is he biding his time so he can make an orderly exit or are the allegations really true?
“Let’s hope we see some more excellent investigative journalism in Spain so that all these people can be properly exposed.”
Of course, Martin Nathan is right. However, in a country ravaged by unemployment, home repossession/demolition, real estate disaster, unsustainable borrowing strategies(by both PSOE and P.P), against a background where universal corruption has been an integral part of the culture for decades, citizens are finally waking up.
And whilst it may not be desirable to pass premature judgement, the surge of public opinion and outrage at yet more (alleged) high level jiggery pokery will not be suppressed by any Canute style approach.
Rajoy has committed to putting on-line his tax returns. That will serve NO purpose and the people know it and so the issue will rumble on and on. But I doubt on this occasion, that your average Manuel Bloggs will stand by and let it pass.
So therefore the quicker El País reveals ALL it’s cards, the quicker the judiciary can resolve the issue (if necessary) and the quicker the resultant government can get on with resolving the continuing megacrisis.
I’m amazed. The Economist refers to Rajoy as a chorizo. So this is a worldwide-known serious problem for Rajoy and PP.But I’m not surprised. Some years ago, Rajoy didn’t affirm he or Barcenas were innocent, he just declared nobody could prove it. So I think we enter in the Rajoy-Chorizo period and his battle to deny it.