22 February 2013 Last updated at 20:25 ET <\/p>\n
Corruption has come to dominate the news in Spain. Scandals have engulfed the government and royal family. But the Balearic islands are under particular suspicion - linked to a third of the current scandals. The BBC's Tom Burridge in Palma investigates. <\/p>\n
In the Santa Catalina market in a middle-class neighbourhood of Mallorca's capital, Palma, there is widespread scepticism over politics - and politicians. <\/p>\n
\"All of them,\" shout a chorus of women gathered around Julia Jimenez's butcher stall, when I ask how many politicians in Spain are corrupt. <\/p>\n
It is a perception that is hard to shift, even if Transparency International rates Spain as relatively clean - the 30th least corrupt country, joint with Botswana, above Portugal and well above Italy. <\/p>\n
Bernardo Contesti, 42, who owns a fourth-generation family-run fruit and veg business, believes corruption has been fuelled by the Spanish property boom and excesses of the past. <\/p>\n
\"Everyone seems to have some dirty laundry that needs cleaning,\" he sighs. <\/p>\n
One of the most famous scandals linked to the Balearic Islands is known as Palma Arena - a complicated web of investigations which have led to allegations against Inaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma and the Spanish king's son-in-law. <\/p>\n
The accusation is that, through a \"non-for-profit\" company, he massively overcharged the regional governments of Valencia and the Balearic islands for organising sporting events. <\/p>\n
He has not been charged with any criminal offence and denies any wrongdoing. However the investigations by state prosecutors are ongoing. <\/p>\n
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Corruption casts shadow on Spanish islands<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 22 February 2013 Last updated at 20:25 ET Corruption has come to dominate the news in Spain. Scandals have engulfed the government and royal family. Continue reading