La Audiencia Nacional condena a Francisco Granados a dos años y medio de cárcel por el amaño de decenas de festejos

The Spanish National Court has sentenced Francisco Granados, former secretary general of the People's Party (PP) in Madrid and former regional government advisor under the leadership of Esperanza Aguirre, to two years and six months in prison for corruption-related charges in the first major trial of the Púnica case. The court also imposed eight years and six months of special disqualification from public office on him. Granados was found guilty of fraud and abuse of power, specifically for his role in manipulating contracts between 2004 and 2013 in favor of the company Waiter Music, which organized festivals in several municipalities within the Community of Madrid governed by the PP. This marks the culmination of a long-running investigation that began in 2014 and has since split into more than ten lines of inquiry. Five trials have been held so far, with Granados being accused in just two of them.

In this particular trial related to Waiter Music, Granados was charged alongside four former mayors from the PP who were also found guilty. These include José Carlos Boza, ex-mayor of Valdemoro, who received four years in prison, and José Miguel Moreno, María Ángeles Herrera, and Carlos Alberto Estrada, each receiving two years. Additionally, David Erguido, a former senator and regional deputy, was sentenced to two years in prison. However, two other mayors from Móstoles, Esteban Parro and Daniel Ortiz, were acquitted by the court.

The prosecution had initially requested six years of imprisonment for Granados but reduced their request to three years during the trial. The judges took into account the mitigating factor of undue delays in holding the oral hearing. According to the court’s ruling, which spans over 200 pages, Granados wielded significant influence over decision-making bodies responsible for awarding public contracts, despite not formally holding administrative authority. His position of political power allowed him to become a driving force behind the corruption scheme designed to benefit José Luis Huerta, the owner of Waiter Music, who passed away before the trial.

The court described how the corrupt system operated to ensure that Waiter Music or companies controlled by Huerta secured contracts. In doing so, the PP ensured access to a company that could organize festivals while providing additional services to politicians. For instance, private services for PP events or members were often provided without billing. Huerta would cover these costs either directly or by charging municipal budgets more than they should have been. The court emphasized that Huerta continued to make such payments to maintain the favor of various PP officials involved in awarding festival contracts.

Granados used his political influence in areas where he had previously served as mayor, particularly in Valdemoro, to secure contracts worth tens of thousands of euros for Waiter Music. The company then funded private events for Granados, including weddings and even events for the PP itself. Some of these events included electoral activities from 2007 and 2008 involving prominent figures such as Esperanza Aguirre, José María Aznar, and Mariano Rajoy, all of which were covered by funds from Waiter Music.

The list of convicted individuals includes all mayors of Valdemoro affiliated with the PP from 1999 until 2014, when the operation was uncovered. Among them, José Carlos Boza received four years for fraud, while others received two-year sentences. Additional convictions extended to former heads of the city hall’s cabinet, council members, and David Erguido, who was considered a trusted associate of Granados according to the court's findings.

Not all mayors from PP-governed municipalities who contracted with Waiter Music faced conviction. The court acquitted Daniel Ortiz and Esteban Parro, mayors of Móstoles, who appeared in court.

The trial focused on the Waiter Music case, a separate piece of the broader Púnica investigation, which looked into numerous manipulated contracts between 2004 and 2015 in favor of a company specializing in organizing events and festivals. Irregularities were detected in at least five municipalities in Madrid governed by the PP—Valdemoro, Ciempozuelos, Moraleja de Enmedio, Móstoles, and Algete—as well as in dependent entities of the Madrid region (such as Metro, Arpegio, Pamam...). A total of 14 individuals were put on trial, including half a dozen mayors and Granados himself.

Waiter Music primarily engaged in the exploitation of hospitality, artistic, and entertainment-related activities, especially promoting and organizing spectacles. Its commercial activity mainly consisted of negotiating with public administrations to obtain contracts for organizing festivals and events.

The sentencing highlights the extensive network of influence and manipulation that existed within the PP administration in Madrid, facilitated by the close relationship between Granados and Huerta. It underscores the systemic nature of the corruption, where political influence translated into financial benefits for both the politicians and the business entity involved. The case serves as a significant example of how political power can be leveraged to secure economic advantages through illicit means, affecting multiple levels of governance and public service provision.