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Candidate for mayor in Albudeite arrested for vote-buying
A Murcia mayoral candidate is the latest to fall in a series of electoral fraud investigations
Isabel de los Dolores Peñalver Neuhauser, PSOE Socialist Party candidate for mayor of Albudeite in the elections coming up this Sunday May 28, has been arrested for her alleged involvement in a network of vote buying in the municipality, according to sources close to the case.
As well as the mayoral candidate, at least two other politicians have been arrested.
The arrests were carried out by the Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police this Thursday May 25, after the scandal emerged in the framework of another investigation.
The suspects have already been charged and released. The investigation is still open and there may be more arrests soon.
Police say they learned of the existence of the plot while conducting a different investigation into drug trafficking. Early indications suggest that the suspects may have offered drugs as payment to addicts in return for their votes.
A press release from the PSOE stated, “In view of the investigation being carried out by the Guardia Civil into an alleged case of vote-buying in the municipality of Albudeite, from the PSOE of the Region of Murcia we want to make it clear that we will not tolerate any kind of lack of exemplary behaviour in our organisation.
“In the Socialist Party we do not tremble in the face of any illegal or unethical practice. If the facts are confirmed, appropriate measures will be taken, if they affect a member of our organisation, will include the immediate expulsion from the party and the cessation of all positions he or she holds.”
The arrests come in the wake of similar investigations into vote-buying in Mojácar, Almeria and postal vote electoral fraud in Melilla, creating a scandal that is expected to have enormous consequences for this weekend’s election.
Another issue that will be at the front of many people’s minds when they come to vote is the division over whether or not Spain is fundamentally a country of racists, a debate unleashed by the racial mistreatment of Real Madrid footballer Vini Jr.
Image: PSOE Albudeite
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