The Panama Papers claimed their second scalp on Friday with the resignation of Spain’s minister of industry, Jose Manuel Soria.
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Soria’s name initially emerged in the papers as the director of a Panamanian shell company two decades ago. Soria denied the allegation, but on Thursday, documents emerged showing Soria had served as the director of a company in another tax haven, the British dependency of Jersey, as recently as 2002.
“All political activity should be exemplary, including when it comes providing explanations,” Soria said in a Friday statement. “When that is not the case, you have to take responsibility accordingly.”
In addition to leaving as the minister of industry, energy and tourism, he also resigned his position in parliament and as regional president of the ruling Popular Party in the Canary Islands.
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Soria was part of the country’s “caretaker” divided government, elected in December. If parliament fails to elect a prime minister by May 2, the king is tasked with dissolving the chamber and holding a new general election. Soria’s resignation increases the likelihood of that scenario.
The Panama Papers, more than 11 million documents leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, exposed thousands of offshore shell companies being used by more than 100 political leader around the globe. They led to the resignation of Iceland’s prime minister, Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson, at the beginning of the month, while British Prime Minister David Cameron has been battling criticism after a revelation that he profited from an offshore company established by his late father.
