Spanish authorities have managed to collect 34.8 bn euros after a 2012 program put in place to combat widespread tax evasion — a concept that “some” people in Greece are familiar with. The whopping figure was announced by Spain’s Budget Office yesterday.

In the previous year, tax authorities amassed 12.3 bn euros, a 12.5%-rise compared to 2013, according to an announcement, which speaks of a “historic record”.

Mariano Rajoy’s conservative government ramped up measures and actions to combat tax evasion after the end of 2011, when Spain was sinking in the mire of a fiscal and debt crisis.

The Spanish government continued to focus on tax evasion, implementing a series of strict punishments for “tax slackers”.

Apparently, not too many ministers in the previous Samaras government were paying attention to their EPP’s “sister party” in Spain.