Finance ministry should take action against Bárcenas

Rajoy has yet to provide an explanation about the Bárcenas case, and even though the Deputy Prime Minister opened the door to stiffening the nation's penal code, he should have already taken measures against Bárcenas given what has happened.

Bárcenas showed yesterday that he has been legally exempted from 11 million euros thanks to Spain's tax amnesty program. The Ministry of Finance should take action, because the pardon does not cover money earned illegally. Bárcenas has yet to be convicted, but Montoro should make the Ministry of Finance pursue the case and try to uncover more information.

If Montoro stays on the side line to wait for a sentence, it will be difficult to explain why he promoted a tax amnesty program that favored his party's ex-treasurer.