The Spanish tax authorities are investigating the partner of Madrid´s regional premier, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, for alleged tax fraud.
The accusations involved false invoices amounting to €350,951 by front companies run by Alberto González Amador for medical supplies and equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the complaint filed earlier this month, prosecutors allege that Amador issued false invoices to reduce the tax liabilities of his company, Maxwell Cremona Ingeniería SL.
Earlier this week, Juan Lobato, leader of the PSOE Socialist party in Madrid, demanded that Díaz Ayuso “shed full light” on the alleged tax fraud committed by her partner.
However, the combative Ayuso hit back yesterday claiming to be a victim of a political destabilization campaign orchestrated by the governing Socialists to cover up their own corruption scandal.
Díaz Ayuso claimed that her partner is being deliberately targeted by a “wild and crazy tax inspection,” and being “besieged” by “all the powers of the state” just because of his personal ties to herself.
“I would have a responsibility if taxpayer money or my position had been used to achieve some of that,” said Díaz Ayuso. “They are seeking to destabilize me through my personal destruction. Pedro Sánchez is sitting in political and economic corruption, and this is not going to cover it up.”
According to local news media Amador´s company, which was focused on engineering services, shifted its operations to healthcare-related activities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, prosecutors have implicated four other individuals associated with nine companies that issued invoices for services never rendered.
The investigation was initiated earlier this year following an inspection from Spain’s tax agency, Agencia Tributaria, into Amador´s businesses during 2020 and 2021.
According to their report “during the audit … it was noted that in light of the increased turnover during these years, this company … did certain things with the sole aim of reducing its tax burden, deducting expenses based on invoices that did not correspond to services actually rendered” prosecutors said.
“The taxpayer … knowingly and voluntarily submitted untruthful corporate tax returns for the 2020 and 2021 tax periods, failing to pay the amount of €155,000 for 2020 and €195,951.41 for 2021.”
The fallout has been dramatic with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, weighing in during a heated parliamentary exchange calling for her resignation over the scandal.
The government´s spokesperson, Pilar Alegría responded by saying the allegations were ‘very serious’ and it was “absolutely essential that she give an appropriate explanation”.
Its not the first whiff of scandal to pass Ayuso´s way.
During the pandemic Ayuso came under scrutiny following reports that her brother had pocketed nearly €300,000 in commission for face mask contracts awarded by her regional administration.
At the time, she conceded that her brother had been paid for securing the delivery of masks from China but insisted everything everything was ” above board.”