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| Spain Barbera: Valencia ex-mayor dies amid corruption case | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A leading Spanish senator and ex-mayor of Valencia, Rita Barbera, has died of a heart attack at 68, doctors say. | A leading Spanish senator and ex-mayor of Valencia, Rita Barbera, has died of a heart attack at 68, doctors say. |
| On Monday, she testified before the Supreme Court over claims of money-laundering by the ruling Popular Party (PP) during her 24 years as mayor. | On Monday, she testified before the Supreme Court over claims of money-laundering by the ruling Popular Party (PP) during her 24 years as mayor. |
| Paramedics tried to resuscitate her for half an hour after receiving an emergency call from a Madrid hotel at about 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT). | Paramedics tried to resuscitate her for half an hour after receiving an emergency call from a Madrid hotel at about 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT). |
| The Supreme Court began investigating Ms Barbera in September. | The Supreme Court began investigating Ms Barbera in September. |
| Many of her team have been accused of corruption, but Ms Barbera denied any involvement in a suspected illegal financing network. | Many of her team have been accused of corruption, but Ms Barbera denied any involvement in a suspected illegal financing network. |
| A lower court judge initially requested an investigation in April, but Ms Barbera's status as a senator, granting her immunity from the lower courts, meant she could only be investigated by the Supreme Court. | A lower court judge initially requested an investigation in April, but Ms Barbera's status as a senator, granting her immunity from the lower courts, meant she could only be investigated by the Supreme Court. |
| The investigation relates to Operation Taula, which saw 24 people arrested in January and is focused on the activities of local officials in Valencia, Alicante and Castellon. | The investigation relates to Operation Taula, which saw 24 people arrested in January and is focused on the activities of local officials in Valencia, Alicante and Castellon. |
| All those held have links to the PP, the dominant political force in the region until elections brought a sea change in May 2015. | All those held have links to the PP, the dominant political force in the region until elections brought a sea change in May 2015. |
| Spain's parliament held a minute's silence for the senator, and political colleagues paid their respects on social media. | Spain's parliament held a minute's silence for the senator, and political colleagues paid their respects on social media. |
| Political opponents also expressed their condolences, but not everyone remained in the chamber of parliament to observe the minute's silence. | Political opponents also expressed their condolences, but not everyone remained in the chamber of parliament to observe the minute's silence. |