CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: Government unveils officials’ assets in transparency push

SPAIN’S government has published information on the earnings and assets of current and former officials as part of an effort to increase transparency amidst corruption allegations levelled against ministers.
The figures, published in the government’s Official Gazette, showed there are currently three millionaires in the Spanish cabinet.
Isabel Celaa, a spokesperson for the government, said: “This government is really moving forward on the path of transparency, which it believes is the only way to advance in democracy.”
Foreign minister Josep Borrell was the wealthiest in terms of declared earnings with €2.77 million. Isabel Celaa, who is also education minister, came second with €1.62 million.
They were followed by science minister Pedro Duque who has around €1.5 million in assets. Duque’s tax arrangements have recently come under scrutiny and the official has been dogged by allegations that he has not paid some property taxes, which he denies.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has some €343,000 in assets on the books and liabilities of €192,000. Former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who Sanchez ousted following a no confidence motion in June, has €1.54 million in declared assets.