President Mauricio Macri has refuted allegations he deliberately hid his involvement in an offshore company identified in the Panama Papers, saying he would present the relevant documentation to be verified by a judge.
Macri also announced that he would put his assets in a blind trust send a new Access to Public Information Bill to Congress, both measures aimed at increasing transparency in the wake of the scandal.
President Macri insisted he has not violated any law with offshore companies (Photo via Casa Rosada)
The president spoke hours after a federal prosecutor had formally requested an investigation to determine whether Macri knowingly omitted his connection to offshore companies in his sworn declarations as a public official.
“I’m calm,” said Macri in a televised address. “I’ve complied with the law and told the truth, I have nothing to hide.”
The president said he would present documents that show he had no active involvement or ownership in Fleg Trading Ltd. an offshore trading company set up by his father Franco Macri in The Bahamas. He added that he would ask a judge to certify his sworn declaration to dispel any doubts. He made no mention of another Panama-based offshore company, Kagemusha, where he is alleged to be named as a director.
Macri then confirmed that he would park his own assets in a blind trust for the duration of his mandate, meaning he will have no control or influence over personal investments while in office.
In another step to boost transparency in government, Macri said he would present a new bill to Congress that would ensure requests for public information were answered within 15 days. The bill proposes sanctions for official that deny requests, as well as the creation of an Access to Information Agency and a Federal Transparency Council to coordinate the policy across all provinces.
“This law seeks to bring transparency and participation, so people know what the State is doing and how they can participate and give an opinion,” said Macri.
The post Panama Papers: Macri Responds With New Transparency Measures appeared first on The Argentina Independent.