At least four ongoing investigations and several arrests cast a shadow over the journey of Spaniards to the polls for the municipal and regional elections this Sunday.
In the final stretch of the Spanish regional elections there are suspicions of vote buying, which began in Melilla, but has already spread to other cities. The Spanish go to the polls this Sunday, May 28.
The case has been widely explored by the Spanish press in recent days. The ABC newspaper reports that there are almost 30 detainees in seven locations for their alleged involvement in a plot that consists of offering money to potential voters, especially “people at risk of exclusion, with vulnerable profiles”, in exchange for votes for the Socialist Party. (PSOE). ) or in the Popular Party (PP). Citizens requested the ballot by mail.
The police began by opening an investigation in Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, where 21% of voters asked to vote by mail – the only time the voter has to identify himself is when he receives the ballot. The value raised suspicions because it was registered in the region in 2019. The investigation ended with nine people arrested, among them the number three party lists Coligação por Melilla (CPM, influential party in the Muslim community), Mohamed Ahmed Al -over there.
Second case, now in Mojácar, in the province of Almería. According to the Efe agency, the scheme consisted of offering between 100 and 250 euros to potential voters, who were approached at the door of the post office. Seven people were arrested, specifically two PSOE candidates: number two on the lists, Francisco Bartolomé Flores Torres, and number five, Cristóbal Vizcaíno González.
This Thursday, the scandal crossed the peninsular border and reached Tenerife, where, reports the ABC, the Police are also conducting an investigation for alleged tax fraud.
Investigations for alleged sale of votes are also open in Seville, and in Murcia the civil guard has arrested 13 people, including a PSOE candidate, Isabel Peñalver Neuhauser, reports El Mundo.
Twelve of the 17 regional governments will be elected this Sunday by some 35.5 million voters. The Spanish general elections are in six months.
Source: Observadora
