Sánchez, Feijóo trade corruption allegations in parliamentary session
The first parliamentary session in Spain since a top aide of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was implicated in a corruption scandal took place on Wednesday. The session quickly turned chaotic with various lawmakers calling on Sánchez to resign as political pressure mounts against him.
People's Party (PP) lawmakers banged their seats and shouted "Resignation, resignation!" The scene orchestrated by Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, who left the chamber without listening to Sánchez, and staring at him with contempt as he passed by.
'You are indecent. And not even your supporters have any doubt about that. All of Spain knows it. You are corrupt and a traitor,' said Abascal before leaving the chamber.
The Spanish premier chose to deploy an offensive tactic as he referenced corruption cases linked with other parties. Sánchez spoke of the Gürtel case, which implicated hundreds of PP officers, some who subsequently resigned, with corruption, including bribery, money laundering and tax evasion.
The PP parliamentary caucus erupted and the situation quickly turned chaotic, with Parliament Speaker Francina Armengol struggling to control the session.
'You are a president deeply trapped in a corruption scheme. No matter how much you disguise it, you are not the victim. The victims are the Spanish people,' said Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President of the PP.
'You came to say you won't call elections because you would lose them. You don't have to save the Spanish people from themselves; the Spanish people have to save themselves from you, and they await your resignation letter,' he added.
Sánchez then said that the only thing he's going to address are the PP corruption cases, which are set to be tried in the coming months.
Sánchez has completely changed his tone, moving from last week's apology to a coordinated offensive against the opposition PP and Vox. The Spanish leader believes they lack the legitimacy to speak about corruption given their serious graft cases.
The difference, as Sánchez notes, is that the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) acts as soon as there are signs, while the PP and Vox cover up corruption.
Sánchez attempted to steer the session away from the PSOE's corruption case, but to no avail.
The last few days have been very tense since audio recordings were released by Spanish police last week.
The tapes confirmed that the third highest ranking PSOE official who's since resigned, Santos Cerdán, was involved in an illegal scheme which saw him take kickbacks in return for awarding public work contracts. Cerdan has denied any wrongdoing.
The European Parliament called on Wednesday for an extra one-and-a-half years to continue spending money under the EU's €650 billion post-pandemic plan, Next GenerationEU.
The resolution, drafted by Romanian MEPs Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan, was adopted by 421 votes to 180, and with 55 abstentions. It stressed the need to ensure that key investments financed by the plan's so-called Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) reach the finish line before the deadline foreseen in August 2026.
It proposed time extensions should apply only to projects that are already well underway and likely to succeed with additional time.
Lawmakers also warned that the limited time remaining to allocate and implement the remaining RRF resources poses serious obstacles to completing critical reforms, large-scale investments, and innovative programs in some countries.
With around 70% of objectives and milestones still unmet, MEPs urged the European Commission to consider setting up successor mechanisms that are both adaptive and forward-looking, while providing a stable framework for replace the plan to guarantee continued investment.
'Critical investments risk being left unfinished after the end of the Facility in August 2026. I called for an extension of funding of 18 months for mature projects and demanded that unfinished projects can continue under other EU instruments such as the cohesion funds, InvestEU, or a future Competitiveness Fund,' said Socialist MEP Victor Negrescu, co-rapporteur on behalf of the Parliament's Committee on Budgets.
'Today, the Parliament is sending a clear message: we stand by the citizens and fight for the finalisation of essential projects.'
According to the resolution adopted by the Parliament, the RRF has been vital in preventing economic fragmentation within the EU's single market while spurring post-pandemic recovery.
Looking forward, they call for targeted investment in areas such as defence, education, and high-speed cross-border transport infrastructure, while encouraging member states to revise their national investment strategies, in order to enhance the EU's energy independence.
'We are calling for a review of how unspent RRF funds can support Europe's new strategic priorities, notably strengthening competitiveness and reinforcing our defence capabilities. In the face of rising geopolitical tensions, Europe must act decisively to defend its citizens," stated European People's Party's MEP Siegfried Mureşan, who is co-rapporteur for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
11 hours ago
- France 24
Chile ups hake catch limits for small-scale fishermen
The new regulation increases their percentage from 40% to 45% of the annual catch quota of 35,000 tons of this fish, with the remaining 55% going to industrial fisheries. The small-scale anglers had been pressing for 70%. One of the country's most popular consumed species, the hake population has decreased by 70% over the last two decades, according to the Fishing Development Institute, a non-profit research group. The new regulation was approved 38-0 with one abstention in the Chilean Senate. The South Pacific hake, or merluccius gayi, provides a living for some 4,000 small-scale fishermen in Chile, a country with over 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) of coastline and a voracious appetite for the fish known as "merluza" in Spanish. Since 2012, the common hake has been considered an overfished species in Chile, with limits on when and how much of the relatively inexpensive fish can be caught. Along central Chile's traditional fishing heartland, more and more boats are returning to port with empty holds as overfishing and climate change decimate hake stocks. Conservationists have also been critical of industrial fishing's practice of bottom trawling, which has severe impacts for oceans and ecosystems. The law passed Wednesday will also boost the allowances for small-scale fishermen who catch jack mackerel, sardines and anchovies, among other fish. Economy Minister Nicolas Grau said the new law means a redistribution of more than $160 million from the industrial sector to artisans. Hundreds of non-industrial fishermen staged violent protests in late March in central and southern Chile, demanding better fishing percentages. Pacific Blu, the company that fishes hake the most, threatened to close its factory if its catch quota was reduced too much, but backed off the threats with the new law's numbers.
Euronews
12 hours ago
- Euronews
Sánchez, Feijóo trade corruption allegations in parliamentary session
The first parliamentary session in Spain since a top aide of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was implicated in a corruption scandal took place on Wednesday. The session quickly turned chaotic with various lawmakers calling on Sánchez to resign as political pressure mounts against him. People's Party (PP) lawmakers banged their seats and shouted "Resignation, resignation!" The scene orchestrated by Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, who left the chamber without listening to Sánchez, and staring at him with contempt as he passed by. 'You are indecent. And not even your supporters have any doubt about that. All of Spain knows it. You are corrupt and a traitor,' said Abascal before leaving the chamber. The Spanish premier chose to deploy an offensive tactic as he referenced corruption cases linked with other parties. Sánchez spoke of the Gürtel case, which implicated hundreds of PP officers, some who subsequently resigned, with corruption, including bribery, money laundering and tax evasion. The PP parliamentary caucus erupted and the situation quickly turned chaotic, with Parliament Speaker Francina Armengol struggling to control the session. 'You are a president deeply trapped in a corruption scheme. No matter how much you disguise it, you are not the victim. The victims are the Spanish people,' said Alberto Núñez Feijóo, President of the PP. 'You came to say you won't call elections because you would lose them. You don't have to save the Spanish people from themselves; the Spanish people have to save themselves from you, and they await your resignation letter,' he added. Sánchez then said that the only thing he's going to address are the PP corruption cases, which are set to be tried in the coming months. Sánchez has completely changed his tone, moving from last week's apology to a coordinated offensive against the opposition PP and Vox. The Spanish leader believes they lack the legitimacy to speak about corruption given their serious graft cases. The difference, as Sánchez notes, is that the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) acts as soon as there are signs, while the PP and Vox cover up corruption. Sánchez attempted to steer the session away from the PSOE's corruption case, but to no avail. The last few days have been very tense since audio recordings were released by Spanish police last week. The tapes confirmed that the third highest ranking PSOE official who's since resigned, Santos Cerdán, was involved in an illegal scheme which saw him take kickbacks in return for awarding public work contracts. Cerdan has denied any wrongdoing. The European Parliament called on Wednesday for an extra one-and-a-half years to continue spending money under the EU's €650 billion post-pandemic plan, Next GenerationEU. The resolution, drafted by Romanian MEPs Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan, was adopted by 421 votes to 180, and with 55 abstentions. It stressed the need to ensure that key investments financed by the plan's so-called Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) reach the finish line before the deadline foreseen in August 2026. It proposed time extensions should apply only to projects that are already well underway and likely to succeed with additional time. Lawmakers also warned that the limited time remaining to allocate and implement the remaining RRF resources poses serious obstacles to completing critical reforms, large-scale investments, and innovative programs in some countries. With around 70% of objectives and milestones still unmet, MEPs urged the European Commission to consider setting up successor mechanisms that are both adaptive and forward-looking, while providing a stable framework for replace the plan to guarantee continued investment. 'Critical investments risk being left unfinished after the end of the Facility in August 2026. I called for an extension of funding of 18 months for mature projects and demanded that unfinished projects can continue under other EU instruments such as the cohesion funds, InvestEU, or a future Competitiveness Fund,' said Socialist MEP Victor Negrescu, co-rapporteur on behalf of the Parliament's Committee on Budgets. 'Today, the Parliament is sending a clear message: we stand by the citizens and fight for the finalisation of essential projects.' According to the resolution adopted by the Parliament, the RRF has been vital in preventing economic fragmentation within the EU's single market while spurring post-pandemic recovery. Looking forward, they call for targeted investment in areas such as defence, education, and high-speed cross-border transport infrastructure, while encouraging member states to revise their national investment strategies, in order to enhance the EU's energy independence. 'We are calling for a review of how unspent RRF funds can support Europe's new strategic priorities, notably strengthening competitiveness and reinforcing our defence capabilities. In the face of rising geopolitical tensions, Europe must act decisively to defend its citizens," stated European People's Party's MEP Siegfried Mureşan, who is co-rapporteur for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.
Euronews
20 hours ago
- Euronews
EU Parliament seeks extension to time for spending EU post-covid money
The European Parliament called on Wednesday for an extra one-and-a-half years to continue spending money under the EU's €650 billion post-pandemic plan, Next GenerationEU. The resolution, drafted by Romanian MEPs Victor Negrescu and Siegfried Mureşan, was adopted by 421 votes to 180, and with 55 abstentions. It stressed the need to ensure that key investments financed by the plan's so-called Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) reach the finish line before the deadline foreseen in August 2026. It proposed time extensions should apply only to projects that are already well underway and likely to succeed with additional time. Lawmakers also warned that the limited time remaining to allocate and implement the remaining RRF resources poses serious obstacles to completing critical reforms, large-scale investments, and innovative programs in some countries. With around 70% of objectives and milestones still unmet, MEPs urged the European Commission to consider setting up successor mechanisms that are both adaptive and forward-looking, while providing a stable framework for replace the plan to guarantee continued investment. 'Critical investments risk being left unfinished after the end of the Facility in August 2026. I called for an extension of funding of 18 months for mature projects and demanded that unfinished projects can continue under other EU instruments such as the cohesion funds, InvestEU, or a future Competitiveness Fund,' said Socialist MEP Victor Negrescu, co-rapporteur on behalf of the Parliament's Committee on Budgets. 'Today, the Parliament is sending a clear message: we stand by the citizens and fight for the finalisation of essential projects.' According to the resolution adopted by the Parliament, the RRF has been vital in preventing economic fragmentation within the EU's single market while spurring post-pandemic recovery. Looking forward, they call for targeted investment in areas such as defence, education, and high-speed cross-border transport infrastructure, while encouraging member states to revise their national investment strategies, in order to enhance the EU's energy independence. 'We are calling for a review of how unspent RRF funds can support Europe's new strategic priorities, notably strengthening competitiveness and reinforcing our defence capabilities. In the face of rising geopolitical tensions, Europe must act decisively to defend its citizens," stated European People's Party's MEP Siegfried Mureşan, who is co-rapporteur for the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee. European lawmakers engaged in a fierce debate on Wednesday, sparked by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government's recent ban on the Budapest Pride event. MEPs argued that the move infringes upon freedom of expression and called on the European Commission to take action. Iratxe Garcia, the group leader of the Socialists and Democrats at the European Parliament, denounced the move and called for the EU to take a strong reaction. "The last red line that the Orban government has crossed is not just an isolated fact, it's not even just an oddity of a country, it's an outright European shame," Garcia said. "The banning of the Pride march is not just a cowardly attack against part of its people. It is yet another manifestation of an authoritarian regime, which has turned its power into the instrument of fear, of censorship, and hate," she added. Other speakers from left-wing and liberal groups called for EU sanctions against Hungary, including the suspension of the country's voting rights, through the so-called Article 7 process. In March, the Hungarian parliament approved a bill that in effect bans the gay pride march. As the legislation states, this event could violate Hungary's so-called child protection law, adopted earlier in the country, prohibiting any portrayal of same sex relationships for minors. The European Commission views this as a violation of its community law and has referred the case to the European Court of Justice. Conservative and far-right MEPs in the European Parliament defended Orbán's move to ban Pride events, saying the EU should not interfere in Hungary's internal affairs. MEP Kinga Gál, from the ruling Fidesz party of Hungary, said Brussels should respect Hungary's laws. "In Hungary, everyone can live and gather freely. But for us, the interest of the children and their physical and mental development is a priority. And everyone has to respect this," Gál said. The Budapest Pride is planned for the 28th of June in the centre of Budapest. According to the new law, participants will also be monitored by AI camera systems and will be fined. Around 70 MEPs will travel to the Budapest Pride, but the European Commission will not send anyone. Meanwhile, the opposition-led town of Budapest is trying to save the Pride march using a legal loophole. Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced that the city steps in as organiser, and in this case, police authorisation is not needed. The police disagree with this interpretation. "There is still a legal battle going on over whether Pride can take place legally or not. The latest development is that the Budapest mayor has come forward and said that he is organising the Pride. Because he does not need police authorisation," German MEP from the Greens, Daniel Freund, said. EU Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath stated that the Commission is still investigating the law and is prepared to utilise all necessary tools to safeguard European values in this matter.
