Madrid â Over the past ten days, the Spanish political scene has been rocked by a wave of sudden resignations involving three lawmakers from across the political spectrum. The cause? Investigations revealed that they had presented false or misleading academic credentials in their official biographies.
The scandal began when Ignacio Higuero, a member of the far-right Vox party, was found to have claimed a university degree from CEU that he never actually earned. Under mounting media pressure, he promptly resigned.
But the issue wasnât limited to the right. JosĂ© MarĂa Ăngel Batalla, a senior official from the ruling PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) and coordinator of post-flood reconstruction in Valencia, also stepped down after it was revealed he used a falsified degree from the University of Valencia. The public prosecutorâs office has since launched an official investigation.
The most shocking case came from the conservative Peopleâs Party (PP): Noelia NĂșñez, a national secretary and parliamentary deputy, resigned not only from parliament but from all political positions after admitting that she had never completed any of the degrees she had listed.
Whatâs particularly troubling is that these revelations were not the result of parliamentary oversight, but rather investigative journalism and public scrutiny. This has sparked widespread outrage and urgent calls to reform how credentials are verified for public officials. As many commentators pointed out, it is unacceptable for individuals to be entrusted with legislative power based on fabricated academic records.
đ While not the first incident of its kind in Spain, this scandal exposes deep flaws in the countryâs political vetting systems. Current regulations rely heavily on self-declaration, with no requirement for official documentation when taking office.
As the public demands greater transparency and accountability, one unsettling question lingers: How many other politicians are still in power based on false qualifications?
Do you think itâs possible that some politicians in your country hold high-ranking positions based on fake degrees?
As for me, in my country... yes â I believe so 100%.
