Rajoy likened to Richard Nixon in 'Bárcenas-gate' case

They have likened Rajoy, who spoke out in Parliament for the first time on Thursday over the Bárcenas slush-fund scandal allegedly involving him and other top-flight PP members, to Nixon in the Watergate case.

It was this case which forced the former American president to 'admit the truth, accept political responsibility and resign from his post in light of the seriousness of the situation', said the PSOE, who add that 'history is repeating itself'.

The socialists recalled that during Rajoy's speech in Congress this week, he said he did not benefit from being in politics – since he has another profession he could return to – and that he had no reason to hamper investigations or the course of justice, always proclaiming his honesty and innocence and flatly refusing to stand down as head of State.

PSOE members said this was exactly what Nixon said when the Watergate case hit the headlines, but that in spite of his insistence that he would not resign, he had to back down, confess and leave.

The party's video shows excerpts from both Rajoy's and Nixon's speeches in parallel format to demonstrate their comparison.

Although no answers were given to UPyD leader Rosa Díez's rhetorical and specific questions during the meeting in Parliament and Rajoy merely reiterated that he had been 'wrong' in 'trusting' Bárcenas, who was 'a fantasist and a liar', vice-president of the PP government Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said the leader's speech had 'clarified the situation fully'.