It's here. Finally, a regulation so that all Public Administrations and those of us who work for citizens through them, are governed by the principle of transparency and rigor in the management of resources ...
It's here. Finally, a regulation so that all Public Administrations and those of us who work for citizens through them, are governed by the principle of transparency and rigor in the management of public resources. It seems obvious, some would say. And I share it.
Recently, the Council of Ministers approved the long-awaited Draft Law on Transparency, Access to Public Information and Good Governance. An electoral commitment of the Popular Party that sees the light thanks to the determination of the Government and those of us who support it from the Popular Parliamentary Group in the Cortes Generales. It is done at a crucial moment, in which citizens, notably conditioned by the worst economic crisis in the recent history of our country, are astonished by the dance of news about various squanderings of those who until now, gloriously exhibited their anonymous miseries, profiting "allegedly", or what is worse if possible, ruining and mortgaging, the institutions that one day "swore" or "promised" to dignify with their work.
The Law will also set, for the first time in our country, the salaries of municipal officials that will not respond to any personal initiative, as has happened in some cases, but to the size of the local corporation itself, among other factors.
Transparency has been the guiding principle for the Government of the Popular Party. The impunity hidden behind the delegation of powers is over. The fiefdoms are over. From now on, it will be the Law and our Rule of Law that mark the ethical and performance principles of Public Administrations. Common sense, ethics and morals, some point out. That's right, but, faced with the picaresque, Law for all.
The reform of the Penal Code will make it no longer profitable to break the Law, if it ever was. Being a disastrous manager or a crook will have personal and criminal consequences for those responsible and infractions, such as the concealment of accounting data, will entail, in addition to their immediate dismissal, fines and disqualification from their positions.
Finally, a Law of this entity could not be drawn up without addressing the financing of political parties, and that never before had a Government had the interest, or the courage sufficient to regulate, relying on excuses as trivial as that "being private entities, they had no obligation to publish their accounts?". Well, from now on, they will because there can be no distinctions in the use of public money. Money, by the way, that is not only received by political parties. Employers and unions will also have to publish their financial movements with total clarity, which we already do in the Cortes Generales and which will have to be extended to anyone, whether natural or legal person, who receives public money for carrying out their work.
A hard task, no doubt. Impossible to do more in such a short time. And better?. Everything can be improved, but I leave that to the reader's discretion. What no one doubts at this point, is that when everyone was betting on an intervention, only the firmness and determination of the Government, together with the sacrifice and effort made by the citizens of this great country called Spain, have been able to ward off the threat of disaster.
It is time to prepare for recovery. The foundations have been laid and the serious imbalances in our economy have been overcome, confidence as a serious and responsible country has been recovered, and it has been shown that a Government of the Popular Party will not allow privileges in the administration and in the tribute of the money of all citizens. And there is nothing like leading by example.
*Oscar Luzardo, senator for Lanzarote.
