Spain's PM facing calls to resign amid Barcenas secret payments scandalJuly 15, 2013 - 09:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is facing renewed calls to resign after a newspaper published text messages allegedly linking him to the man at the centre of a secret payments scandal, BBC News said. The El Mundo report said Rajoy sent words of support to Luis Barcenas, former treasurer of the governing Popular Party (PP). Barcenas is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations. Rajoy, too, denies any wrongdoing. It is the latest episode in a scandal that has enraged a country in the depths of recession and record unemployment. Previous reports in El Mundo have alleged that Rajoy and other top politicians received illicit payments. The paper said it had original ledger entries written by the former PP treasurer. It is claimed that Barcenas ran a PP slush fund that took donations from construction magnates and distributed them to party leaders in cash. Another Spanish paper, El Pais, published similar documents earlier this year. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lithuania sending €100,000 to help Armenia fight floods consequences Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took to social media to thank his Lithuanian counterpart for the contribution. Turkey condemns Uruguay’s recognition of Armenian Genocide Turkey has condemned a newly passed law in Uruguay that recognizes the Armenian Genocide, TRT reports. For the first time, Armenia votes in favor of Georgia resolution in UN Armenia on Tuesday, June 4 voted for the first time in favor a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Moscow warns Armenia against leaving Russian-led defense bloc Armenia could ruin its military ties with Russia if it continues drifting towards the West, according to a senior official in Moscow. |