If Rajoy cannot defuse the Bárcenas case with decisiveness and conviction, it will explode under his governments rule. The issue is causing significant harm to a Spanish society that has been weighed down by a lack of good ethics and examples from governments and companies.
Businesses are worried about how the case will affect Spain's brand. Media sources all over the world covered the story of Prime Minister Rajoy's possible involvement in a corruption scandal. Rajoy's image in the papers makes these businesses concerned that the risk premium will shoot up again, influencing the stock market.
Opaque political dealings in congress have led to these forms of corruption. The solution to end corruption is to promote democracy. We have to take advantage of the parliamentary process in crafting transparent bills that include political parties, their foundations, labor unions and the Crown.
Further, party financing should be scrutinized and reformed structurally in order to create more systematic and transparent processes of democracy from within. This situation is not about creating better laws, but changing political attitudes.
Rajoy should give some clear explanations, respond to questions that have been asked of him and not leave any doubts about the Bárcenas case. He cannot afford to elude this issue, because it can cost Spain its image. As the nation's foremost representative, he must put the general interest before his party's. If he cannot, he should step down.
