Like the movie, 'Mr. Smith goes to Washington', Jaume Matas, former PP President of the Balearic Islands Government, has decided to seek fortune in the US capital.
Matas has moved to the US as a new senior executive for Barceló, a big tourist industry company. Nothing wrong there if wasn't because Barceló won a public tendering to manage the crown jewel of the tourist industry in the Balearic Islands, the new Convention Centre in Majorca. This happened less than a year ago while Matas was President of the regional government.
The public contract that Barceló acquired includes the building of the centre and its management for 40 years of the entire complex formed by a parking lot, hotel, shopping centre and convention centre. The entire complex occupies 70,000 metres square of terrain and is ideally located in the seafront of the city. Furthermore, the Government will contribute 44 millions Euros of the total 130 estimated costs as well as donating free of cost the terrain for the project. The other company that didn't get selected, Tremón, has requested a judicial investigation into the tendering process, still ongoing.
According to Balearic regional law (2/1996), a public official cannot for a period of a year work for a company or institution which has benefited of a decission taken by the official in the last two years. Matas lost the Presidency of the regional government in May 2007, only 6 months ago, therefore his new position contravenes regional law.
Another 'funny' case for PP to add to their ever-growing list of dodgy businesses. Murcia, Balearic Islands, Madrid, Valencia,... the list of cases goes on forever. Rajoy should be grateful his party doesn't govern that many regions after all.
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