Spain’s lower parliament passes anti-corruption bill
Spain's lower house of parliament has passed a bill strengthening political party accounting regulations in an attempt to battle corruption.
The bill, which was approved on Wednesday, adds illegal financing of political parties to Spain’s penal code.
The bill, proposed by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative Popular Party, still has to be approved in the senate.
As the Popular Party holds a majority in the upper house, the penal reforms are expected to pass.
The new legislation bans anonymous contributions higher than 50,000 euros (USD 58,000) to political parties.
It also calls for fines of up to three to four times the amount of the illegally donated funds.
Prison terms of six months to four years will become applicable if the illegal funding is higher than 500,000 euros, and up to 100,000 euros if the donations have foreign origins.
Spain’s main opposition Socialist Party labeled the bill as "completely insufficient" because donators who contribute less than the said amount will not face jail terms.
During a huge bribes-for-contracts scandal that allegedly existed in the Popular Party, none of the accused had donated over 500,000 euros.
Gurtel case
The so-called "Gurtel" case is but one in a long chain of high-profile corruption scandals in Spain, which involve politicians, businesses, and even the king's sister, Princess Cristina de Borbon.
The princess is facing prosecution as part of a four-year investigation of her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, who is accused of money laundering and fraud.
The Spanish public’s confidence in the monarchy has been in decline following a series of financial scandals over the last few years, including Cristina's case.
According to a survey conducted last June, the majority of Spain’s population is in favor of a referendum on the future of monarchy in their country.
Spain has also become the scene of popular protests, urging the abolition of monarchy in the country.
SRK/AS/MHB
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