The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has insisted that the change at the head of the Tax Agency is an 'absolutely normal' process, despite coinciding with the controversy over the jewels attributed to former president Zapatero and the departure of several senior officials from the agency.
The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has addressed the controversy surrounding the Tax Agency (AEAT) following the change of its director, Soledad Fernández, and the departure of two other senior officials. España has described the process as 'absolutely normal' and denied any connection to the controversy generated by the jewels attributed to former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
In statements after the meeting of the Fiscal and Financial Policy Council, the minister announced that the Council of Ministers will approve the appointment of Fernández's successor this Tuesday. According to España, the director herself conveyed her desire to leave the position when he arrived at the Ministry, but asked him to remain until the conclusion of the Income campaign, which ended on June 30.
A change overshadowed by the controversy of Zapatero's jewels
The announcement of the change comes in a context of strong political and media pressure on the Tax Agency. Days earlier, it emerged that the agency had not initially planned to investigate the case of the jewels attributed to Zapatero, but changed its stance following pressure. This shift has fueled speculation about a possible tense internal climate at the AEAT.
España has sought to dissociate both episodes. 'I see nothing but normality in the change of a person who has been in office for four years,' he stated, adding that the other two senior officials who have left the agency have also done so for professional reasons. The minister has assured that all of them are seeking new professional destinations.
The Treasury head has defended the officials of the Tax Agency, stating that they are being subjected to 'absolutely unjustified attacks and criticisms.' He insisted that the agency acts with full independence and has 'the backing of the entire Government.'
Appearance in the Senate and possible involvement as a prosecution
The outgoing director, Soledad Fernández, will have to appear in the Senate to explain the actions of the Tax Agency in the case of Zapatero's jewels. Additionally, Judge José Luis Calama has offered the Treasury the possibility of becoming a private prosecution in the judicial proceedings, a decision particularly sensitive as it affects a former president of the Government.
The Executive insists on dissociating the changes from the controversy and maintains that they are solely due to organisational reasons. However, the temporal coincidence between the renewal of the AEAT's leadership and the controversy over the jewels keeps a political debate open that the Government is trying to resolve by appealing to 'normality.'
For the taxpayer, this situation generates uncertainty about the independence of the Tax Agency. Experts remind us that the AEAT must act with technical and not political criteria, especially in cases affecting former presidents of the Government. Fernández's appearance in the Senate will be key to clarifying whether there were pressures in the change of criteria.
The next step will be the appointment of the new director of the AEAT, expected this Tuesday. The Government hopes that the change will help close the controversy, although the opposition has already announced that it will continue to demand explanations.
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