Spain is facing a new corruption scandal, with former Partido Popular deputies Pedro Ramón Gómez de la Serna and Gustavo de Arístegui at its center. The National Court has ruled to prosecute them for involvement in a complex scheme linked to securing multimillion-euro contracts in Algeria. Investigators believe both politicians used their positions to establish contacts with foreign officials, enabling them to broker lucrative deals for Spanish companies.
The charges include corruption in international business dealings, bribery, document forgery, and involvement in a criminal organization. The case involves not only the former parliamentarians but also 21 others, as well as five companies, among which Electrificaciones del Norte SA (Elecnor) plays a key role. For some of those involved, the investigation has been expanded to include suspicions of money laundering.
According to case files, Gómez de la Serna and Arístegui, while holding positions as public officials and deputies, began providing consultancy services in 2009 to companies seeking to enter international markets. They received fixed monthly payments for their services and additional commissions for successfully closed contracts. Investigators claim their official status was a decisive factor for companies, which agreed to pay substantial sums even without guaranteed results.
Particular attention is given to contracts in Algeria, where Spanish companies, with the assistance of intermediaries, secured large government tenders. These included the construction of a desalination plant in Sidi-Tlata worth 250 million euros and a tram line in Ouargla valued at 230 million. To advance the interests of Spanish firms, connections were used with local officials who, according to investigators, received substantial payments through a network of intermediaries. Prosecutors believe that the management of Elecnor and other involved companies were aware of all this activity.
The investigation covers the period from 2009 to 2016, when the accused combined parliamentary duties with private business, and Arístegui simultaneously served as ambassador to several Asian countries. Investigators believe that a lack of oversight and transparency within the companies allowed them to implement a scheme for obtaining and maintaining overseas contracts through bribes and personal connections.
