Spanish elites feel wrath of corruption backlash

Madrid

SPANISH authorities are taking a tougher line against corruption by the country's long untouchable elites as a lengthy economic downturn fuels public outrage.

With a year to go until the next general election, political parties, which have long been accused of turning a blind eye, talk of stepping up the fight against corruption at a time when one in four Spaniards is out of work.

The most famous name to pay the price is Rodrigo Rato, a former head of the International Monetary Fund and one of the pillars of the ruling conservative Popular Party.

The 65-year-old is at the heart of an investigation into allegations that he and dozens of other executives at troubled lender Ban…