The so-called ‘Mediator case’ is about a new corruption scandal originating in the Canary Islands that splashes charges from the Socialist Party, a former general of the Civil Guard and businessmen.
The matter is generating commotion and concern among PSOE members, who value the party’s response to the involvement of a former deputy -whom they fired-, although some doubt that it is enough to avoid negative consequences in the May elections.
when did it all start
The Investigating Court number 4 of Santa Cruz de Tenerife had been investigating the ‘Mediator case’ for more than a year, whose name comes from the businessman Marco Antonio Navarro, who acted as a link between the public officials leading the plot and other businessmen. Everything to get privileges in public contracts, European aid or avoid sanctions.
On February 14, several of those involved were arrested and two days later, the head of the Court ordered the entry into provisional prison of the retired General of the Civil Guard Francisco Espinosa Navas.
The Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) confirmed that they are accused of bribery, influence peddling, money laundering, document falsification and belonging to a criminal organization.
Who are involved
Francisco Javier Espinosa Navas: Retired general of the Civil Guard, he was head of the Las Palmas Command a decade ago, he has already been arrested and he is the only defendant who has entered prison so far. The Internal Affairs Service of the Corps itself indicates him as a recipient of bribes from businessmen. The Civil Guard agent told his collaborators that he had to think about his future given his imminent retirement: a future in which he was going to earn 4,500 euros less per month.
Juan Bernardo Fuentes Curbelo: The former socialist deputy is named as the ringleader of the plot, although he was not arrested by the Police along with the rest of those investigated. He was a deputy for the PSOE in the Congress of Deputies since 2020 after replacing another parliamentarian. Before him he was General Director of Livestock of the Government of the Canary Islands, a position in which his nephew replaced him.
Taishet Funetes: The former General Director of Livestock of the Government of the Canary Islands and nephew of Juan Bernardo Fuentes was dismissed from his duties last summer for “loss of trust”.
How did the plot work?
Fuentes Curbelo allegedly demanded from the businessmen a first payment of 5,000 euros to initiate proceedings in his favor.
To introduce the businessmen into the plot, he apparently took advantage of his status as a deputy and organized visits to Congress and Espinosa’s office at the Madrid Civil Guard Command. In addition, he also celebrated meals and parties in restaurants and hostess clubs, as well as at the Victoria Hotel in the capital, where he stayed weekly to attend the sessions of the Lower House.
The expenses were borne by the businessmen, who in those contacts delivered cash to the Canarian deputy, maintain those responsible for the police investigation.
Until then, the alleged ringleader of the Mediator case was General Director of Livestock of the Canary Islands Government, a position in which his nephew, Taishet Fuentes, another of the detainees, succeeded him.
According to the police investigation, the businessmen saw “great possibilities of growing in their businesses”, since former General Espinosa had contacts on the islands during the period that he was in charge of the Las Palmas Command.
In the case of the businessman José Santiago Suárez, who is free with charges for this cause, he not only intended to sell his drones to cattle farms and cheese factories in the Canary Islands through Fuentes Curbelo and his nephew Taishet, but also to the Ministry of Health for the transport of medical supplies, always according to the same sources.
political fallout
Within the PSOE, deputies, members of the Federal Executive, socialist barons and representatives of the party in the Canary Islands speak of “shame”, “pain” and “indignation” for these events.
In statements to EFE, all agree in praising the “forcefulness” and “speed” with which the PSOE acted, since as soon as they learned of the involvement of Fuentes Curbelo on February 14 -a week before his arrest-, the party he expelled him and was required to deliver his act of deputy.
Most hope that this reaction will be enough to stop the possible repercussions of the case in the regional and municipal elections on May 28, both inside and outside the Canary Islands, although there are different criteria on this.
“Cases of corruption exist, unfortunately they do exist, but the important thing is how they are responded to,” said the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who stressed that in the PSOE they “cut off” corruption and do not “cover it up”, as he assures that the PP does.
A socialist baron acknowledges to EFE that it is “annoying for anyone to have corrupt people in your work team”, but believes that the fact of taking measures “immediately” against Fuentes Curbelo not only “does not harm” the PSOE but rather “benefits” it.
The opposition charges against the PSOE
From the national headquarters of the Popular Party, the campaign spokesman, Borja Sémper, called on the socialist leaders to explain and clarify whether it is true “around 15 to 20 PSOE deputies could be involved”, as well as shed light on the possible influences of the plot in the Government of the Canary Islands and in that of Spain.
The PP of the Canary Islands will appear as popular accusation in the case. The popular compare this matter with the ERE scandal in Andalusia, and have asked the Canarian president, Ángel Víctor Torres (PSOE), for an extraordinary plenary session.
Domínguez denounces that the scandal has unknown dimensions” and “even splashes” the central government. In fact, the PP has also requested the appearance in the Senate of Minister Nadia Calviño due to her status as president of a foundation that allegedly gave contracts for just over 2 million euros to the plot of the Mediator case.
