A senior Spanish government official has resigned amid a scandal over an allegedly fake university degree. José María Ángel Batalla, appointed last December to lead the reconstruction of Valencia after severe flooding, stepped down from all public roles on Thursday, including his position as president of the Socialist Party in the region.
His resignation follows reports that Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutors are investigating whether he used a forged diploma in Archival Science and Librarianship to obtain a civil service post. A report by the Valencian Anti-Fraud Agency, published by El Mundo, claims Ángel falsified a degree from the University of Valencia.
Ángel denies any wrongdoing, insisting he only needed a high school diploma to secure the position. Under growing political pressure—including calls for him to repay public wages—Ángel announced his retirement, saying he would fight to defend his “honesty and honour” after a 36-year civil service career.
