Press Conference

I had to go without my interpreter which made it interesting but very hard work.

I was pleased top see that the attendance was tremendous. All 5 of the top Spanish television stations were there. As was radio and all the leading daily newspapers. The only english press to attend was the Costa Almeria news whose correspondent Jackie Bragg I met for the first time. 

The top table consisted of the councils solicitor, Candido, Manolo and two other lawyers. The councils solicitor opened the conference and explained that both Candido and Manolo had called this conference to refute the allegations appearing in the press and to present documents to the press which supported their contentions.

Candido started firstly again reiterated that he was firmly of the opinion that the action taken against him was purely politically motivated. He referred to the allegations of him receiving a sum of 12,000 euros which was supposed to be a backhander for building permissions. He produced documents to show that he received this money from a sale of a piece land belonging to his family. He then continued to detail allegations and how he totally denied any wrongdoing and could provide valid evidence to show that that was the case each member of the press was given a pack of these documents and I have  a full set although it will take me some time to translate and identify them all. There are some 40 A4 pages and they include bank transfers etc.  Manolo followed Candido and his statement followed Candido's by refuting each and every allegation and producing documents to substantiate his version of events. Both men stating that they did not understand why the Guardia Civil had not been able to find these documents which so clearly showed their innocent nature.

Candido highlighted the fact that Zurgena, one of the smallest municipalities, should have such an amount of attention paid to its activities when it is quite obvious to anyone that infractions of the planning laws were far more evident in many other municipalities in Almeria and Levante. He also referred to the fact that one of the charges, relating to the allowing of building on rustic land, related to building permissions give in 2002 when the council was in fact PSOE controlled and his party PA only had a couple of seats at that time. 

Both men performed very well and I felt much more convinced that there would be insufficient evidence upon which they could reasonably be found guilty. 

I only hope that the Spanish press which is so dominated by the PSOE, will fully report what was said today. I intend to get a copy of La Voz and Ideal tomorrow to find out just how it is reported and will update my blog when I have deciphered the responses.