MADRID (AP) — The former longtime leader of Spain’s Catalonia region declared Friday that he was not corrupt during his 23 years in power though he did not disclose details about the fortune he concealed abroad for three decades.
The 84-year-old Jordi Pujol founded Catalonia’s Convergence and Union political alliance that governs the region. He was the region’s president from 1980 to 2003.
Pujol told regional lawmakers in Barcelona that he inherited more that $2 million from his father in 1980.
He made the appearance under extreme political pressure to reveal more details about his holdings following his July announcement that he did not declare an unspecified amount of money to authorities for more than 30 years.
Pujol faced blistering questioning by lawmakers during his appearance and he was booed by protesters as he left the Catalan parliament.
In January, several Pujol relatives were ordered by Spain’s Fraud Inspection Office to reveal information about their financial affairs.
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