Another government official named in Andratx scandal

JOAN Carmel Massot, the Balearic government's director general of European Relations and a former Andratx town council, is the latest person to be named in connection with the Andratx corruption scandal, but he told reporters yesterday that he had not received any official notification. He added that if he did, he would resign. He is the second high ranking government official allegedly involved in the scandal, after former director general of planning, Jaume Massot.
He said that he had nothing to fear from an investigation.
He was speaking after a Parliamentary session in which Balearic leader Jaume Matas said that he was “absolutely calm about the actions of the people who are currently in the Government,” adding that he would adopt political responsibilities “when the time comes and there is a reasonable doubt.” He was answering Francina Armengol, the Socialist spokeswoman, who asked ”how many more people in the government or the Partido Popular will have to be named in the Andratx affair before political responsibilities are assumed?” Massot was head of the Andratx council's finance department for 12 years, before taking over the planning department in 2003. However, he resigned in December of that same year to take over the post of director general. “I have had nothing to do with the council since then,” he said. He went on to say that his conscience was clear, as he had always acted “correctly and following favourable reports.” José María Rodríguez, Balearic minister of the interior, said that the government would not sack Massot unless he were arrested.
He pointed out that “Jaime Massot was arrested and then released with charges. But Massot Salva is only being investigated over a licence which was approved when he was part of the Andratx council, which does not mean that he is involved.” The licence in question was granted to former Mayor Eugenio Hidalgo, also involved in the scandal.
It was originally to build a tool shed but became a warehouse.