Fury as José Manuel Soria, ex-minister named in Panamá leaks, nominated for World Bank chairman role
Sunday, September 4, 2016 @ 8:23 PM
FORMER industry minister José Manuel Soria's nomination as candidate for World Bank chairman has led to uproar among the Spanish public, given that he was forced to resign after being named in the notorious 'Panamá Papers' leak.
Acting president Mariano Rajoy, of the right-wing PP, failed in his attempt to be invested as national leader again on Friday – and just hours later, it was revealed he had nominated the now-ex minister for the position despite his alleged involvement in running front companies in tax havens.
Other than lifelong PP voters, it looks likely that the party could suffer if the country goes to a third election in December, given that its leader's credibility has taken another nosedive.
Head of the PP's direct and historic rivals - the left-wing PSOE, or socialists – Pedro Sánchez wrote on Twitter: “Whilst Parliament was hosting the investiture debate, the PP was putting Soria [pictured] forward for World Bank chair. A surfeit of reasons for voting NO.”
Sánchez had been heavily criticised for refusing to at least abstain to allow Rajoy, the most-voted but without a majority, to become president again.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com