Spanish Prime Mariano Rajoy appeared in parliament Thursday to face questions about a slush-fund scandal rocking his conservative Popular Party. Rajoy is accused of receiving illegal cash payments but has resisted calls to resign.

Spain’s prime minister has made an unexpected confession that he was wrong to trust his former party financial chief for so many years but denies the ex-treasurer’s allegations that the party ran a slush fund.

In a special appearance before Parliament, Mariano Rajoy surprised many by saying he “was wrong to maintain confidence in someone we now know did not deserve it.”

Rajoy is mired in a controversy concerning former Popular Party treasurer Luis Barcenas, who has been jailed while under investigation about the party’s funding and having huge secret Swiss bank accounts.

Rajoy’s name is among top party members alleged to have received under-the-table payments from Barcenas.

On Thursday, Rajoy again denied the allegations and called his long-time friend Barcenas “a delinquent.”

(AP)

Date created : 2013-08-01