They believe that there may be a conflict of interest when awarding the assignment to an educational consultant. The Lehendakari have admitted that they could have acted more ‘carefully’.
The parliamentary groups of Elkarrekin Podemos-IU and the PP have jointly registered a petition with the Basque Parliament to create a commission of inquiry regarding the offering and awarding of school transport contracts by the Ministry of Education of the Basque Government.
The groups say they are making the request because they “a possible conflict of interest“when awarding said contracts.
They explain that the Ministry of Education had hired “as an external advisor and mediator in the conflict over the allocation of school transport routes a person who is in turn director and secretary of one of the competing companies”, and that “an important part” of the contracts were awarded to his company.
They believe that if these facts are confirmed, they will face a situation of “extreme gravity that calls into question the management of public services by this government.”
Despite all this, they want a commission of inquiry to be set up to ‘investigate the possible political responsibilitiesin the bidding and award process.
Just today, Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu conveyed to the Minister of Education, Jokin Bildarratz, his “full confidence” regarding the allocation of school transportation routes. The Lehendakari has stated that there has been no “conflict of interest or any legal incompatibility”, although they should have been “more careful” in this matter and tried to avoid “incorrect interpretations”. He further recalled that the counselor “provides all explanations” and that he will urgently appear before a parliamentary committee that will take place next Wednesday.
Source: EITB
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
