Gürtel Case in Spain
Political scandalAbout
The Gürtel case is a significant political corruption scandal in Spain, involving illicit donations and rigged government contracts. It implicated hundreds of officials from the People's Party (PP), Spain's major conservative party. The scandal centered around a network led by businessman Francisco Correa, who cultivated relationships with PP officials to secure government contracts in exchange for kickbacks. Investigations began in 2007 after a whistleblower reported corruption in the Madrid region. The case was notable for its scale, with estimates suggesting losses to public finances exceeded €120 million. The Gürtel case led to significant legal consequences, including prison sentences for key figures like Correa and former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas. In 2018, the Audiencia Nacional found the PP guilty of benefiting from the kickback scheme. The scandal contributed to the ousting of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and damaged the PP's electoral popularity. It highlighted systemic issues with transparency in contract awards and political financing in Spain, prompting calls for anti-corruption reforms. The Gürtel case remains one of the most extensive corruption scandals in Spanish political history.
