Lawmakers' financial statements made available for first time
Rajoy reports 597,442 euros while Rubalcaba declares 984,281 euros in personal wealth
Congress and the Senate for the first time on Thursday released the financial statements of its members, enabling the public to find out how much money their elected officials earn.
And in a first, Spaniards have learned the earnings of Popular Party candidate Mariano Rajoy, who had refused to release information concerning his wages in the past. The leader of the opposition earns 173,265 euros annually plus an additional 98,225 euros in "per diems and appearance fees" from the PP in 2010, according to his congressional financial statement.
He also declared his personal wealth at 597,442 euros, which includes four homes, including two in Madrid, an office, savings, investment funds, stock and insurance policies.
Socialist prime-ministerial candidate Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba earned 55,519 euros as interior minister and deputy prime minister with an additional 64,008 euros as a deputy. He listed his personal wealth at 984,281 euros which includes his Madrid home worth 215,225 euros and a parking spot valued at 10,611 euros. In savings, Rubalcaba declared two bank accounts with 57,929 euros and 114,805 euros, and 23,435 euros in investments.
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero earned 67,427 euros as prime minister in 2010 in addition to 10,446 euros from his Socialist Party. Zapatero owns 674 square meters of land in his native León where he plans to build a home. His pension plans are set to be worth a monthly 3,000 euros and reported 120,000 euros he will receive from the sale of a property.
Gaspar Llamazares, United Left (IU) parliamentary spokesman, dismissed the importance of releasing the financial statements. "Of course, my personal wealth might appear high to everyone, But just because we are members of the left, that doesn't mean we have to live under a bridge or dress like monkeys," he joked with reporters.
Llamazares declared 303,058 euros in savings and investments, half of a home in Asturias with a storage room worth 43,763 euros and an Opel Meriva auto, which he recently purchased.
The information, which can be obtained on the websites of both Congress and the Senate, was made public after both chambers agreed on July 19 to begin releasing the financial statements of all lawmakers.
