Madrid official renounces controversial master's degree

MADRID, April 17 (Xinhua) -- President of the Community of Madrid Cristina Cifuentes told media on Tuesday that she renounced her controversial master's degree in autonomic law of the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) in Madrid.

However, she will not resign as requested by all opposition forces.

Online newspaper Eldiario.es revealed a couple of weeks ago that an official of the university would have accessed the file of Cifuentes to change her grades in two subjects.

According to the following journalistic investigation, Cifuentes did not attend the classes (which are compulsory to obtain the degree) and did not take part in the exams.

Cifuentes apologized in a letter sent to the media "because of the flexible conditions offered by the university" that included non-compulsory attendance, but ruled out a resignation.

"I have not committed any illegality (...) I have complied with the requirements that the university requested to obtain this master's degree", she said, explaining that the irregularities would not have been her fault.

The leaders of the opposition, the socialists of the PSOE, have filed a motion of censure that will be supported by the left formation of Podemos.

After the scandal of Cifuentes and the appearance of similar cases in other positions of the ruling Popular Party and other political parties, the Spanish society begins to investigate the academic past of its politicians. Enditem