Spanish practices - time for a change

The recent uproar in the UK regarding expenses claimed by members of parliament were referred to as "Spanish practices".

Reference to these so called "Spanish practices" was made in the Spanish media at the time. Whilst a certain sense of shame and distaste at the idea of being a benchmark for "perks" of the job was apparent, it now appears that a court decision this week has raised the bar for what might be considered legal, and further blurred the line between the acceptable and the unacceptable.

Now in most countries a judge who is acknowledge to be a close friend of one of the defendants on trail would declare himself unavailable for the case, as his impartiality would have to be questioned.
Not so in Spain. Even when the defendant is a key political figure and media attention surrounding the case is heated, to say the least. Thankfully there is a higher court which will have to review the decision, but we might wait another year before the decision is revisited.

What a surprise. And the leader of the opposition is now boldly claiming that no wrong was ever done... and that justice has prevailed. Why isn't anyone calling for a review of parliamentary procedure, the need for all gifts to be declared or perhaps "given back".

Corruption is not going to help the Spanish economy get out of its current mess and it is time that politicians on all sides started to make a clean sweep and set a new standard for what is acceptable. As for the judiciary...perhaps there were no other judges available!