Spain is embroiled in a new corruption scandal involving former high-ranking members of the Socialist Party. The case centers on the party’s former organizational secretary and a former transport minister, who are suspected of lobbying for multimillion-euro contracts for a major construction company outside the country.
In early 2019, a Spanish delegation traveled to Morocco to discuss the prospects of building large-scale port infrastructure in the city of Kenitra. The group included not only officials, but also individuals with no formal ties to the government, yet who expressed a clear interest in the project. Just days before the visit, a contract was signed between a Spanish company and a firm from Navarra, granting the latter a percentage of the profits if the deal went through.
Secret deals and international connections
Investigators note that the participants’ scheme was carefully planned. Their correspondence discussed details of upcoming meetings with Moroccan ministers and included information about key contacts within Morocco’s government. Special attention was paid to the energy minister, who was described as a reliable partner. All communications were conducted through messaging apps, and some messages were even forwarded to themselves to preserve crucial information.
In January 2019, there was discussion of a port construction project in which a Spanish company planned to participate alongside other firms. The investment was estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. During preparations for a visit to Morocco, one participant requested to be included in the delegation despite lacking official status. According to investigators, he was indeed present at the events, as confirmed by photographs that were later recovered.
Gabon: Another Point of Interest
In addition to Morocco, the individuals under investigation also focused their attention on Gabon. In December 2021, when one of the suspects was no longer serving as a minister, he continued to maintain contact with representatives of the construction company. He came into possession of a copy of an official document in French confirming a large outstanding debt to the Spanish firm for completed projects. This document was found both in the company’s office and in his personal correspondence.
The amount owed exceeded 20 million euros, highlighting the scale of operations and the possible interests of those involved in the scheme. Investigators note that despite changes in official positions, the individuals continued to exert influence over processes related to international contracts.
The Investigation Continues
It remains unclear whether the Spanish company managed to secure the desired contracts in Morocco. However, investigators are certain: systematic efforts were made to lobby business interests abroad. The case includes numerous messages, documents, and photographs pointing to close cooperation between politicians and business entities.
The investigation is ongoing, and the public is closely following developments. The question of how deeply corruption has penetrated Spanish political circles remains unanswered.
