A video created by a Spanish political party has circulated blaming the Dominican Republic for rampant corruption in Spain. Dominican beaches and the country symbols are used in the video “Island of Corruption”. President Luis Abinader would reportedly call former Spanish President Jose Maria Aznar of the Partido Popular and the Ministry of Foreign Relations would issue a formal complaint to Spanish President Pedro Sanchez.
The incident coincided with the inauguration by Rafael Nadal in the Dominican Republic of the inauguration of the Zel Punta Cana, a joint venture between Nadal’s Zel Group, the Melia Hotel Group, and the Banco Popular Dominicano. The Dominican Republic is the country of choice of around two dozen Spanish hotel companies, and is the country’s main foreign investor in the tourism industry.
The controversial video caricatured Spanish politicians and their relations to a supposed “island of corruption” referencing the reality TV show “La isla de las tentaciones” (The Island of Temptations), which is filmed in the Dominican Republic.
In a press conference, responding to journalists’ questions about the video, the spokesperson for the Popular political party in the Spanish Congress, Miguel Tellado, apologized to the Dominican Republic and confirmed that the video had been taken down from their social media channels.
The Dominican government considered the video “unacceptable” for labeling the country as an “island of corruption.” The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic criticized the “instrumentalization” of the country’s image and the misrepresentation of its national symbols, especially for internal Spanish political matters. The government added that it was a “gratuitous offense that does not reflect the historic fraternal relationship between the two nations.”
The Dominican Ministry of Foreign Relations also pointed out that “the Dominican government has been internationally recognized for its significant progress in strengthening the rule of law and transparency.”
The video had received thousands of views at a time when Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s party is trying to enhance its digital presence, especially to reach a younger audience.
In the AI-generated video, the names “Pedro, Begoña, Ábalos, Jésica, Aldama, Armengol, the prosecutor, Cerdán, and Ángel Víctor” appeared as contestants of the reality show. They were all shown posing from the beach, mimicking the popular reality format.
“Corruption, lust, ambition, lies,” read the message in the video. A voiceover, similar to the presenter’s voice, concluded: “Welcome to the island of corruption.”
Meanwhile, Tellado responded that “it is Pedro Sánchez who should apologize for the corruption networks” after the Spanish President admitted that the video caused him “embarrassment.” He insisted that it is Sánchez who needs to apologize for the “corruption schemes, bribes, and commissions” led by the former number two of the PSOE, former Minister José Luis Ábalos, who is under investigation in the ‘Koldo plot.’
Sánchez addressed the video during a press conference in Brussels after the conclusion of the extraordinary European Council. Although he said he had not seen it, as he had been in meetings all day, he stated that it caused him “embarrassment” and apologized to the Dominican Republic for the use of images from the country.
“The only thing I can say is that I feel a lot of shame, and on behalf of Spain, I am deeply sorry. The Dominican Republic is an extraordinary country, a friendly country, with which we share historical and cultural ties that Spain values,” he said. He continued, “I am deeply ashamed and apologize to the Dominican Republic and the Dominican people for this embarrassing video, and those responsible for publishing it will have to answer for it.”
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also stated that the video demonstrated that the PP was “completely unfit to govern Spain.” “Instead of standing with the government, they are using degrading political techniques to defame and insult a brotherly people like the Dominicans,” he criticized in statements to the media, urging the Popular Party to apologize.
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El Diario
10 March 2025