In Catalonia, another case of a political party returning budget funds has reignited the issue of spending transparency in parliament. Vox voluntarily reimbursed €7,600 after the oversight body discovered that some expenses for meals did not meet established regulations. For residents of Spain, such incidents highlight the need for stricter control over public spending and greater transparency from politicians.
According to El Pais, the refund was made on February 18. The audit revealed two separate amounts that did not qualify as legitimate parliamentary group expenses: one for €2,605 and another for €5,007. One of these included spending on alcoholic beverages, which also raised concerns among auditors. Vox explained that these expenses were related to work meetings: one in Lleida focused on discussing an agricultural program, and another was an internal group event.
Reaction and details of the reimbursement
The party stated that it decided to return the money before the release of the official report to avoid further controversy. Vox representatives emphasized that they acted on the recommendation of the oversight body, which questioned the justification of these expenses. Specifically, one of the receipts recorded an amount of €184.25 for strong alcohol, which is not permitted for funding from the parliamentary budget.
In its official statement, Vox also pointed out similar cases among other political groups. For example, the Junts party spent nearly €47,500 on a work trip to Belgium, while representatives of the People’s Party charged €1,887.60 for New Year’s gifts for staff and MPs. Additionally, according to Vox, some groups failed to provide sufficient information about their expenses, making verification difficult and raising questions about transparency.
Reporting issues
The supervisory body noted that some parties, such as PSC and ERC, almost entirely transfer received subsidies to party accounts without disclosing how the funds are used. This makes it difficult to track where taxpayers’ money is actually going. The report emphasizes that a lack of complete information hinders transparency and proper oversight of spending.
The situation with Vox has sparked discussions not only about their own spending, but also about broader financial reporting practices in the Parliament of Catalonia. The return of funds was seen as an effort to minimize reputational damage and demonstrate a willingness to cooperate with oversight bodies. However, questions remain for other parties, and public attention to the matter continues to grow.
Context and related cases
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly faced scandals involving the misuse of budgetary funds by political parties. In 2025, a similar incident occurred in Madrid, when one of the parliamentary groups was forced to return a significant sum after an audit of event expenses. In Andalusia in 2024, several cases were discussed where funds were spent on gifts and banquets, sparking a wave of public criticism. Such episodes highlight the importance of transparency and regular monitoring of political financing to prevent abuse and strengthen citizens’ trust in government institutions.
