Anti corruption demo in Valencia

APPROXIMATELY 60,000 people participated in a demonstration in Valencia last Saturday protesting against corruption in politics and calling for the resignation of regional president, Francisco Camps. The march went ahead despite an application made to the Valencian courts in early march by Antonio Clemente, the secretary general of the regions ruling Partido Popular (PP) for the region to have it banned on grounds of public safety.

The march was organised by the pressure group Colectivo contra la corrupción, a left wing cross party coalition against the incumbent right wing PP politicians.

In evidence were effigies in the shape of sausages bearing the heads of the president of Castellón provincial council, Carlos Fabra; Valencia’s Mayoress, Rita Barberá; head of economy in the Valencian regional parliament, Ricardo Costa; and another politician implicated in the infamous Gürtel Case, Álvaro Pérez.

The Gürtel case was initiated in 2009 and involves allegations of widespread corruption within the PP in the Galicia, Madrid and Valencia regions.

It is ongoing and one of the lighter aspects of charges in Valencia was the accusation that its president, Fransisco Camps accepted suits from his tailor (known as “el bigotes”, or “the moustache”) as part of the alleged web of corruption payments.

Some marchers wore black ribbons as a symbolize the mourning of victims of political corruption.

By Staff Reporter