BAIL DEMAND

I do find it rather amazing that a Palma judge is asking former Balearic leader, Jaume Matas, to pay a three million euro bail. This is an enormous sum and it must be one of the biggest in history in Spain, if not Europe. Now, there are a whole list of charges against Matas, mostly relating to political corruption when he was leader of the Balearics between 2003 to 2007. Matas has hit back saying that the bail demand is far too large and he is having difficulty in raising the money. I am not surprised. I am sure that even some one like Bill Gates would find it difficult to raise that sort of money over the Easter holidays! The former Balearic leader, who was also minister for Justice in the national government of Jose Maria Aznar, says that he doesn´t understand why his bail requirement is so high compared to others who have allegedly committed similar offences. Matas must raise the money this week otherwise he will be sent to jail. His passport has already been withdrawn so that he will be unable to return to his new home in the United States. It is certainly a difficult time for Matas, who was narrowly defeated at the last local elections three years ago. It will be interesting to see if he can raise the money, it is certainly going to be a marathon race.