The Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, has requested this Friday in Oviedo anti-corruption measures in Spain before the appearance of President Pedro Sánchez next Wednesday July 9th in Congress. Otherwise, she said, «the president will not speak on behalf of the entire government.»
The vice president traveled to Oviedo to meet with the six unionists from ‘La Suiza’ and to participate in the I Summer School Anita Sirgo, organized by CCOO Asturias. In a press conference at the General Assembly of the Principality of Asturias, Díaz referred to the national political situation and in particular to the cases of alleged corruption affecting the PSOE, with its former organization secretary, Santos Cerdán,, in provisional detention.
«It is in the hands of the PSOE to maintain the legislature,» Díaz assured, expressing her concern about the «inaction» within the PSOE and the perception, within the party itself, that «this is not as serious as it seems.»
Regarding this weekend’s Federal Committee of the PSOE, Yolanda Díaz showed «absolute respect» for the body, stating that this «is not Sumar’s concern.» What concerns her, she pointed out, is that «clear and urgent measures of democratic regeneration in Spain and a social turnaround of the legislature are put into motion.»
She added that this Committee must make decisions «legitimately,» but it is the government that must take «decisive measures» to combat corruption.
The Second Vice President recalled how over a year ago Pedro Sánchez appeared before the public after five days of «reflection» to announce a series of measures for democratic regeneration. «A year and three months later, we have a very serious case of alleged corruption,» she noted, inviting an evaluation of the measures taken within the government since then.
Faced with this situation, Sumar has presented a series of proposals to combat the «political corruption» that is being experienced. Among other things, she mentioned a comprehensive anti-corruption law, the creation of an anti-corruption agency that is «completely autonomous,» with sufficient budget and personnel, and that requires all Public Administrations to have corruption risk plans. «We are not proposing anything that is not in our neighboring countries,» Díaz said.
The Vice President pointed out that all these measures should be announced before the 9th, when President Pedro Sánchez will have to be held accountable in Congress for the departure of the former ‘number 3’ of the PSOE, Santos Cerdán, in the ‘Koldo case’.
