Spain’s Economy Minister Rejects Former Minister Calviño’s Claims of Government Tampering with INE Data
Spain’s Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo refutes former Minister Nadia Calviño’s claims of government meddling to alter INE economic data during the pandemic, defending the institute’s independence.
- • Carlos Cuerpo denies any government interference in INE’s GDP data during the pandemic as alleged by Nadia Calviño.
- • Calviño admitted in her memoirs to assisting the INE to produce more favorable growth figures.
- • Cuerpo stresses the INE’s independence and the regulated nature of its interactions to maintain transparency.
- • The Ministry has withheld requested documents related to methodological changes Calviño referenced, fueling suspicions.
Key details
On February 7, 2026, Carlos Cuerpo, Spain’s current Minister of Economy, Commerce, and Enterprise, strongly denied assertions made by former Minister Nadia Calviño alleging government interference in the National Institute of Statistics (INE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Calviño, in her memoirs ‘Dos mil días en el Gobierno,’ admitted to having “helped” the INE present more favorable GDP growth figures than initially reported, raising concerns about the independence and integrity of official economic statistics.
Cuerpo emphasized the INE’s autonomy and the importance of protecting its methodology, stating that both the ministry and Eurostat respect the INE’s work. He highlighted that interactions between the INE and other institutions are strictly regulated to preserve transparency and prevent political influence. According to Cuerpo, the INE acted "with solvency" throughout the pandemic-induced challenges, and its recent upward revisions have propelled Spain to the forefront of growth among Eurozone countries.
Calviño’s criticism centered on the INE’s GDP estimation methods, which she claimed systematically underestimated economic activity for years. Although she revealed providing technical assistance to the institute, Cuerpo distanced himself and the current government from any inappropriate involvement, underscoring that such interference would contravene EU statistical regulations.
The controversy is further fueled by the Ministry of Economy’s refusal to supply requested documentation about the methodological changes Calviño described, despite opposition demands. Calviño has affirmed these documents exist and were shared internally within the INE to enhance coherence among economic indicators and adapt to emerging digital economy factors.
This dispute has sparked significant political debate about the transparency and independence of Spain’s official economic data, which is critical for policymaking and international credibility.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Calviño's current position
Sources report different current positions for Nadia Calviño
eldebate.com
"Calviño revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she 'helped' the INE to present a more favorable economic growth figure than initially reported."
elmundo.es
"Calviño, who is now the President of the European Investment Bank, criticized the INE's GDP estimation methodology in her book."
Why this matters: One source states Calviño is the President of the European Investment Bank, while the other does not mention her current role. This affects the context of her criticisms and the perceived authority behind her claims.