PP loses bid to join Gürtel case as plaintiff

A Valencia High Court judge has rejected for a second time an attempt by the Popular Party (PP) to file "a people's complaint" in the ongoing investigation into alleged illegal campaign financing by some of its members.

Judge José Ceres ruled that the attempt by the PP to become a party in the inquiry doesn't hold legal weight because "it doesn't mention any elected official by name, which is a specific requisite that must be fulfilled to determine whether it should be given jurisdiction" in the case.

The PP's complaint only mentions Francisco Correa, the alleged mastermind of the Gürtel contracts-for-kickbacks scheme, and his point man in Valencia, Álvaro Pérez, despite the fact that six regional PP deputies have been indicted for alleged illegal fundraising.

The court is investigating allegations that some Gürtel co-conspirators, such as Pérez and his Orange Market firm, made huge contributions to PP politicians between 2007 and 2008 in exchange for more than five million euros in contracts to set up Valencia's tourism exhibit at the annual Fitur fair.

In Madrid, the regional High Court has opened an internal inquiry against his colleague Judge Antonio Pedreira for failing to determine whether the Madrid or Valencia courts should investigate former Valencia regional television director Pedro García, who is under inquiry for alleged contract-rigging during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Valencia in 2006.

Pedreira was in charge of the Gürtel case at the time.