Diana Riba to Spanish Government: “End corruption, no matter who falls”
The European Parliament had a debate on the rule of law in Spain. EFA Group President, Diana Riba i Giner delivered a cutting speech, accusing Spain’s major political parties of decades-long complicity in undermining judicial independence and enabling systemic corruption.
The Catalan MEP began by recalling a 2018 WhatsApp message from Ignacio Cosidó, then spokesman for the conservative Spanish People’s Party (PP) in the Senate. In the message, Cosidó bragged that the party would “control the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court through the back door”, the same chamber that later sentenced Catalan political leaders for sedition.
“For the PP to now claim to defend the rule of law is staggering,” Riba said. “You’ve treated control of the judiciary as just another political tool.”
MEP Riba called out years of inaction despite repeated warnings from GRECO, the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body, which has consistently flagged the lack of judicial independence in Spain.
“Yes, there’s a serious problem with the separation of powers,” she said. “We’re seeing judges outright refuse to apply laws passed by Parliament. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
But Riba i Giner didn’t stop there. She argued that the rot goes far beyond judicial interference, pointing to a deeply embedded culture of corruption at the heart of Spanish politics.
“People must be watching in disbelief as the PP and PSOE throw accusations at each other,” she said. “Do these names ring a bell? Gürtel, Nóos, Filesa, Fabra, MercaSevilla, Palma Arena, EREs… Of course they do. Both parties know them well.”
“Corruption in Spain is structural,” she continued. “Let’s not forget — the former king is living in exile because of it.”
Diana Riba i Giner, EFA Group President, closed her speech with a clear and direct challenge to the PSOE, calling on them to use their current position in government to take responsibility and clean up the state institutions, from within.
“Out of respect for citizens, stop using corruption as a political football and start making the reforms our democracy needs. You can govern without stealing. That’s why today, our clearest demand is to the PSOE: clean out the state’s sewers, because the stench is unbearable. End corruption, no matter who it takes down. The corrupt and those who enable them.”
