Former Spanish minister leaves Socialist Party amid corruption allegations

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Former Spanish Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos announced on Tuesday that he would leave the Socialist Party in the country’s parliament to become an independent, asserting his innocence amid corruption allegations.

His decision to leave the group defied Socialist Party leadership, which had asked him to resign his seat.

While Abalos, who was the minister for development and transportation between 2018 and 2021, is not accused of corruption, his former right-hand man, Koldo Garcia Izaguirre, is accused of participating in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme related to mask contracts during the initial outbreak of COVID-19.

“I’m not accused of anything. I am not even part of the investigation nor did I make any money off of this,” he told the media in a televised speech. “I will not end my career as if I were corrupt when I’m innocent.”

Garcia was the personal driver and bodyguard of Abalos. Abalos named Garcia his advisor, and got him appointed on a board of the train company Renfe and his wife was also hired in the ministry.

On Feb. 21, the Spanish police arrested Garcia, accusing him of forming a key part of a fraud scheme. The Spanish justice system alleges he and several others earned €9.5 million ($10.3 million) in cash kickbacks for granting a €53 million ($57.5 million) contract to a company to bring in masks.

Garcia’s wife and brother were also arrested during the investigation.

Abalos denies having any knowledge of the scheme and slammed his party for not supporting him when he had nothing to do with it.

Abalos’ departure from the fragile governing coalition is not the first.

In December, the four Podemos members of parliament also departed the coalition government to join the “mixed group” splitting with junior coalition partner Sumar. Abalos will also join the “mixed group.”

Now, Spain’s governing coalition holds just 141 seats — far from the 176 needed to form a majority. Not only does it have to court the votes of its former partners, but it also needs to earn the support of separatists and regionalist groups from Catalonia and the Basque Country.