Spanish PM takes the stand at political graft trial

SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy denied yesterday any knowledge of an illegal financing scheme within his conservative Popular Party as he testified as a witness at a major graft trial.

It was the first time that a serving prime minister in Spain has testified in a criminal case.

The trial centres on a vast kickback scheme that allegedly saw companies shower former PP lawmakers and civil servants with bribes in exchange for con- tracts and helped fund the party. Rajoy is not accused of anything himself but was asked to testify because as the party’s chief since 2004 – and a highranking member before that – he would have knowledge of how the PP operated.

“I never dealt with party economic affairs,” Rajoy told the court. He said there was a “clear separation” between political and economic party matters within the PP and that his responsibilities were always “of the political sort”.

Dozens of protesters blew whistles and held banners reading “Make the PP illegal” as Rajoy arrived by car at the National Court compound in San Hernando de Henares on the outskirts of Madrid.

Rajoy did not sit in the traditional witness stand in front of the judges, but instead answered questions – sometimes testily – from the elevated platform where the three judges sat.

Two former premiers – Felipe Gonzalez, an ex-Socialist leader, and Adolfo Suarez, prime min- ister during Spain’s transition to democracy – appeared in court in separate trials but they are no longer in office.

Altogether, 37 defendants face justice in the case including two former party treasurers and businessman Francisco Correa, the alleged head of the network. Companies would allegedly give him a commission of 2 to 3 percent on the value of public contracts.

Correa said in court that he would then give politicians involved in awarding contracts some of the money.

His main accomplice was allegedly Luis Barcenas, a former PP manager and treasurer who was once close to Rajoy.

Barcenas is accused of setting up a slush fund to top up the salaries of PP leaders. He has said he made payments to top PP members, including Rajoy.

During his testimony yesterday, Rajoy reiterated that he never met Correa and he dismissed the allegations of secret payments to PP officials as “absolutely false”.