Spanish Minister for Industry, José Manuel Soria has resigned from his post following the "Panama Papers" data leak. Soria was not able to deny having links with an offshore company in the Bahamas that was established by the ill-famed Panamanian legal firm Mossack Fonseca. It was later uncovered that this company had ties to another offshore company from the Canary Islands where he was the local leader for the Spanish People’s Party (PP). The Spanish government has announced that Economy Minister Luis de Guindos will take over Soria’s responsibilities.

The scandal emerges at a time when Spain already faces a string of corruption scandals involving regional politicians. The People’s Party has up until now however risen in the polls, likely due to the fact that voters have become tired of Spain’s left-wing parties as they have as of yet failed to form a coalition government after the December elections. A second general election will presumably be held coming June while the People’s Party holds the government as care-taker up until then.

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For more information on the "Panama Papers" data leaks, read our main article here.