Journalist Rafael Méndez Exposes 'Owners of the State' in New Book
In an interview with El País, journalist Rafael Méndez discusses his new book, 'The Owners of the State,' which investigates the influential role of senior officials and State lawyers in Spain. Méndez reveals how these public servants often transition into lucrative private sector roles, leveraging their insider knowledge of legislation to benefit corporate clients against the very state institutions they once served. A key example involves State lawyers who helped draft the Ports Act later advising companies on how to exploit loopholes in that same law. Méndez emphasizes that while these actions are legal and transparent, they represent a significant ethical scandal and a form of institutional impunity. The book, based on ten years of investigation and anonymous sources, critiques the regime that protects these elites rather than attacking individuals alone. Méndez argues that those in power are either unaware of their dominance or deliberately downplay its significance, allowing them to operate without effective oversight or boundaries within the Spanish administration.
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Journalist Rafael Méndez Exposes 'Owners of the State' in New Book
In an interview with El País, journalist Rafael Méndez discusses his new book, 'The Owners of the State,' which investigates the influential role of senior officials and State lawyers in Spain. Méndez reveals how these public servants often transition into lucrative private sector roles, leveraging their insider knowledge of legislation to benefit corporate clients against the very state institutions they once served. A key example involves State lawyers who helped draft the Ports Act later advising companies on how to exploit loopholes in that same law. Méndez emphasizes that while these actions are legal and transparent, they represent a significant ethical scandal and a form of institutional impunity. The book, based on ten years of investigation and anonymous sources, critiques the regime that protects these elites rather than attacking individuals alone. Méndez argues that those in power are either unaware of their dominance or deliberately downplay its significance, allowing them to operate without effective oversight or boundaries within the Spanish administration.
elpais