The Balearic Government insists that the claim for the masks in the Koldo plot is still alive

The Government of Marga Prohens insists that the file claiming the masks from the Koldo García plot has not expired and maintains that they have until April 24 to maintain the request for the return of the 2.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
04 March 2024 Monday 15:37
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The Balearic Government insists that the claim for the masks in the Koldo plot is still alive

The Government of Marga Prohens insists that the file claiming the masks from the Koldo García plot has not expired and maintains that they have until April 24 to maintain the request for the return of the 2.6 million euros that were supposedly They disappointed the previous Government chaired by Francina Armengol.

The president of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, has once again demanded the resignation of the president of Congress, whom she has accused of lying in her statements made this Tuesday. She has reiterated that they have requested appearance in the case and that they will file a criminal complaint to "clarify" the alleged corruption plot. "The situation is unsustainable," she said from Berlin, where she is participating in the ITB tourism fair.

The current Minister of Health, Manuela García, has shown one of the masks in the plenary session of the Parliament and has denounced that the previous executive bought "from his friends in the PSOE and the Ministry of Public Works" material that was not appropriate. He has denounced that the previous team did not claim the money in three years despite knowing that it was not what had been purchased and has announced that the Government will "work" to recover all of the money that was paid, 3.7 million, and the 2.6 that were paid for the extra price on the masks.

The councilor's response has come after various socialist deputies have pointed out the current Government for having let the file expire after receiving alleged pressure from the plot. From the wiretapping of those involved, it is concluded that several of them, including Koldo himself, tried to mediate with the new Government to avoid the claim and the judge himself indicates in his order that former minister José Luis Ábalos was one of these mediators.

The counselor and various members of Prohens' team have denied pressure and assure that no one in the plot has spoken with senior members of their team, although they leave open the possibility that Koldo García or one of the businessmen investigated could speak with an official. They insist that there have been no contacts and the general director of the Health Service, Javier Ureña, has opened the possibility of opening a new administrative procedure to claim all of the money allegedly defrauded.

The file to claim the overpaid money began in August 2023 by the Prohens Government following a proposed resolution signed on July 6 of that year, the day the Balearic Parliament elected Marga Prohens as the new president of the Balearic Islands and, therefore, Armengol's last day as head of the Balearic executive. Previously, the Balearic health services had sent a letter to the company, dated March 20, in which they recalled that the masks were not appropriate and communicated the adoption of measures that were not implemented.

Those responsible for the PSOE and Francina Armengol herself maintain that the file began on that date, but the letter does not appear in the file and did not have administrative effectiveness until the process began on July 6. The current Government maintains that this delay in claiming makes it very difficult to obtain a refund of the extra money paid, hence the possibility of initiating a new claim is being studied.