Spanish ruling party top member quizzed in court
Top member of Spain's ruling party quizzed in court over allegations of major slush fund
Protesters shout and hold banners reading "Cospedal resign" and "this government protects corrupts" while Spain's ruling party Partido Popular's (PP) General Secretary Maria Dolores de Cospedal arrives at the High Court in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 14 2013. Police have kept protesters and supporters apart as the secretary general of Spain’s ruling Popular Party Maria Dolores de Cospedal arrived in court to answer questions about a slush fund allegedly run by the group over decades. The party has been rocked by allegations by former financial chief Luis Barcenas who has told the court he ran an off-the-books payment scheme that moved tens of thousands of euros (dollars) and benefited top party members, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
MADRID (AP) -- Police have kept protesters and supporters apart as the secretary general of Spain's ruling Popular Party arrived in court to answer questions about a slush fund allegedly run by the party for decades.
Maria Dolores de Cospedal arrived at the Madrid court Wednesday morning and was greeted with insults and calls for her to be put in jail by a handful of opponents. A similar number of supporters applauded and cheered.
The party has been rocked by allegations from former financial chief Luis Barcenas, who has told the court he ran an off-the-books payment scheme that moved tens of thousands of euros and benefited top party members, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
Cospedal is giving testimony but is not a suspect. Rajoy has vigorously denied the allegations.
