The investigation into a corruption scandal involving a number of private companies doing business with Town Councils across Spain has today forced the resignation of Madrid's Councillor for Sport, Alberto López Viejo, and the Mayor of Boadilla la Monte, Arturo Gónzalez Panero.

López Viejo has resigned because, as the organiser of official events in the region, his name has been linked with businessmen being investigated by the country's High Court for crimes including bribery, money laundering and illegal use of influence.

The President of the PP in Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, gave a press conference this afternoon, officially accepting the resignation of López Viejo as well as that of the ex-mayor of Majadahonda, Guillermo Ortega.  During Ortega's period of office, the head of his cabinet was one María del Carmen Rodríguez Quijano, who was arrested on Friday, although later released, and who is married to Francisco Correa, alleged head of the corruption ring who has also been arrested by the Anti-Fraud Department. 

The arrests form part of the ongoing investigation into corruption involving councillors in Marbella, Sotogrande and Valencia.

At the same time, the Secretary General of the Partido Popular in Madrid, Francisco Granados, announced the resignation of Arturo González Panero, mayor of Boadilla del Monte and of his deputy, María Jesús Díaz. Panero also has links with Francisco Correa, having travelled to Miami with him in 2002 and 2003. 

Granados met this afternoon with PP councillors in the constituency of Boadilla, and they accepted Panero's resignation. 

Hours before, the PP leader, Mariano Rajoy, had already announced Panero's resignation, while Panero was still maintaining his innocence and describing himself as a 'scapegoat'.  An internal investigation into the handling of the scandal has been opened.

The councillors' meeting also gave rise to the news of the resignation of Boadilla Town Hall's 'number two', María Jesús Díaz, who should have taken over from Panero.  According to some reports, there was opposition from other councillors to Díaz taking over the mayor's office, and others claim that Panero made it a condition of his resignation that she resign too.