Spain is witnessing a new wave of investigation connected to the financial activities of one of the country’s largest political forces. The National Court (Audiencia Nacional) has launched a thorough review of the reimbursement scheme within the PSOE party. This comes after a request from the Supreme Court, which insists on clarifying the details of cash payments made to former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and his aide Koldo García.
Judge Ismael Moreno, who oversees all episodes of the case not directly related to deputy Ábalos, has initiated a separate proceeding to examine these transactions. The decision was made after an official request from the Supreme Court, which noted that too many questions remain about the origin and purpose of the funds transferred through the party’s accounts.
During preliminary hearings, it was revealed that former PSOE manager Mariano Moreno and an employee of the party’s central office confirmed all payments were reimbursements for expenses such as meals and business trips, funded by money credited to bank accounts. However, the court was not satisfied with these explanations, as the case includes reports of possible illegal commissions and discrepancies in the documentation.
Particular attention was drawn to information that a businesswoman, involved in a separate case, claimed to have handed over a large sum of cash at the party’s office on Ferraz Street. Additionally, investigative materials include conversations between Koldo García and his ex-wife, where they discuss possible cash payments in envelopes directly at the party headquarters.
Questions about internal accounting
Despite the documents provided, investigators still have doubts about the transparency of the accounting. Party representatives insist that all payments were properly processed, and the discrepancies are due to some expenses being recorded not to individuals, but to departments. However, the judge pointed out that it remains unclear who specifically authorized cash compensations and how the authenticity of the presented receipts and invoices was verified.
Investigators also took interest in why it was not always possible to confirm whether the person reporting expenses was the one who actually incurred them. This issue is particularly concerning, as it involves substantial sums and potential violations of financial discipline.
Ongoing investigation
At this stage, the court is not drawing final conclusions but emphasizes the need for further examination of all circumstances. In the near future, additional witnesses are expected to be questioned and new documents requested in order to determine whether any irregularities or even criminal actions took place regarding cash payments.
The payment scandal involving PSOE could become one of the biggest financial controversies in recent years if investigators manage to prove the existence of an unofficial fund or other schemes circumventing financial controls. For now, there are still many unanswered questions that will need to be addressed as the investigation continues.
