Spain · Panama Papers
José Manuel Soria: offshore leaks and what happened next
Resigned Soria resigned as minister on 15 April 2016, and no formal investigation of him was reported in the sources reviewed.1,2
Being named in a leak is not evidence of wrongdoing, and owning an offshore company can be legal. Each record sets out what was reported, the person's response, and what official action, if any, followed.
What was reported
Spanish media partners in the Panama Papers reported that Soria was linked to UK Lines, a British company with a Bahamas arm set up by Mossack Fonseca, and El Mundo later published a document from the Jersey company Mechanical Trading Limited bearing his signature, Catalan News reported.1,2
Response
Soria first denied links to companies in Panama, the Bahamas or any other tax haven and said his name appeared by mistake, Euronews and Catalan News reported. In resigning he cited a succession of mistakes in his explanations.1,2
What happened afterwards
- Resigned, Government of SpainSoria announced his irrevocable resignation as minister and also gave up his parliamentary seat and the presidency of the People's Party in the Canary Islands, Catalan News reported.1,2
Sources
- Catalan News, Spanish Minister of Industry resigns over Panama leaks (15 April 2016)
- Euronews, Dimite el ministro de Industria en funciones José Manuel Soria (15 April 2016)