Orense (Spain), Sep 21 (IANS/EFE): Francisco Rodriguez, the mayor of this northwestern Spanish city, was arrested Thursday on corruption charges.
The leader of the Socialist Party in the Galicia region, Pachi Vazquez, told reporters he fully trusts in the justice system and in the innocence of the Orense mayor and that he wants to see the matter resolved as quickly as possible.
Rodriguez is accused of influence-peddling, fraudulent conveyance and laundering assets, sources close to the investigation told EFE.
The mayor's arrest was ordered by investigating magistrate Estela San Jose, who directed the "Operation Champion" corruption probe that toppled Jose Blanco, deputy national leader of the Socialists and a cabinet member in the 2004-11 government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.