'Untenable': Spain's PM fights for his job as corruption scandal grows
The scandal erupted on Thursday after the Supreme Court said Santos Cerdan, the third-highest ranking figure in Sánchez's Socialist party, was suspected of involvement in awarding of public works contracts in return for kickbacks.
The case is linked to a broader investigation that already ensnared former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, once a close ally of the prime minister.
Sánchez is not accused of any wrongdoing but the case adds to mounting legal scrutiny of his inner circle.
His wife, brother and Spain's top prosecutor, who was appointed by Sánchez's government, are all under judicial investigation in separate cases.
The scandals-- none of which have gone beyond the preliminary investigation phase -- have fuelled demands from his critics for him to resign and call early elections.
Centre-right newspaper El Mundo wrote in an editorial on Friday it was "untenable" for him to continue.
The situation was "agonising" for the Socialist leader, who was been in office since 2018, wrote conservative newspaper ABC.
Speaking at his party's headquarters on Thursday, a sombre-looking Sánchez apologised for the scandal but vowed to serve out his term until 2027.
But his ruling coalition junior partner, far-left party Sumar, called for a change in the government's direction in the wake of the scandal.
"It's not enough to say sorry," Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, the founder of Sumar, told reporters.
At the same time Catalan separatist party Junts has requested an urgent meeting with Socialist leaders to assess the viability of the legislature.
Sánchez's fragile minority government relies on Junts to pass laws in parliament.
Paloma Román, a political science professor at Madrid's Complutense University, said Sánchez may be forced to call a confidence vote to reassert control.
"What Sánchez needs to do now is to calm his allies' criticism by providing them with more information and addressing the issue of confidence," she told AFP.
'Earn trust'
The government has so far refused to call a confidence vote.
"The prime minister has to keep earning the public's trust every day, as he's doing," Oscar López, a cabinet minister who is close to Sánchez, said Friday during an interview with news radio Cadena Ser.
"He has a duty to carry out his campaign promises and not let down the millions who voted for him," he added when asked whether a vote of confidence was being considered.
The main opposition Popular Party (PP) has called repeatedly for Sánchez to step down.
But PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has ruled out the idea of proposing a motion in parliament to try to topple Sánchez, warning it could backfire and bolster the Socialist leader if it fails.
He instead urged Sánchez's allies to reconsider their support, saying they would be complicit in "the biggest wave of corruption" if they refused.
Analysts say Sánchez's coalition partners are reluctant to withdraw their support, fearing that doing so could pave the way for a PP government supported by far-right party Vox -- a prospect many regional and leftist parties view as unacceptable.
"They won't let Sánchez fall -- not out of love, but because they fear a PP-Vox government even more," said Roman.
Sánchez came to power in June 2018 after ousting his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in a no-confidence vote over corruption scandals involving the PP.
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Local Spain
18 hours ago
- Local Spain
'Untenable': Spain's PM fights for his job as corruption scandal grows
The scandal erupted on Thursday after the Supreme Court said Santos Cerdan, the third-highest ranking figure in Sánchez's Socialist party, was suspected of involvement in awarding of public works contracts in return for kickbacks. The case is linked to a broader investigation that already ensnared former transport minister Jose Luis Abalos, once a close ally of the prime minister. Sánchez is not accused of any wrongdoing but the case adds to mounting legal scrutiny of his inner circle. His wife, brother and Spain's top prosecutor, who was appointed by Sánchez's government, are all under judicial investigation in separate cases. The scandals-- none of which have gone beyond the preliminary investigation phase -- have fuelled demands from his critics for him to resign and call early elections. Centre-right newspaper El Mundo wrote in an editorial on Friday it was "untenable" for him to continue. The situation was "agonising" for the Socialist leader, who was been in office since 2018, wrote conservative newspaper ABC. Speaking at his party's headquarters on Thursday, a sombre-looking Sánchez apologised for the scandal but vowed to serve out his term until 2027. But his ruling coalition junior partner, far-left party Sumar, called for a change in the government's direction in the wake of the scandal. "It's not enough to say sorry," Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, the founder of Sumar, told reporters. At the same time Catalan separatist party Junts has requested an urgent meeting with Socialist leaders to assess the viability of the legislature. Sánchez's fragile minority government relies on Junts to pass laws in parliament. Paloma Román, a political science professor at Madrid's Complutense University, said Sánchez may be forced to call a confidence vote to reassert control. "What Sánchez needs to do now is to calm his allies' criticism by providing them with more information and addressing the issue of confidence," she told AFP. 'Earn trust' The government has so far refused to call a confidence vote. "The prime minister has to keep earning the public's trust every day, as he's doing," Oscar López, a cabinet minister who is close to Sánchez, said Friday during an interview with news radio Cadena Ser. "He has a duty to carry out his campaign promises and not let down the millions who voted for him," he added when asked whether a vote of confidence was being considered. The main opposition Popular Party (PP) has called repeatedly for Sánchez to step down. But PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has ruled out the idea of proposing a motion in parliament to try to topple Sánchez, warning it could backfire and bolster the Socialist leader if it fails. He instead urged Sánchez's allies to reconsider their support, saying they would be complicit in "the biggest wave of corruption" if they refused. Analysts say Sánchez's coalition partners are reluctant to withdraw their support, fearing that doing so could pave the way for a PP government supported by far-right party Vox -- a prospect many regional and leftist parties view as unacceptable. "They won't let Sánchez fall -- not out of love, but because they fear a PP-Vox government even more," said Roman. Sánchez came to power in June 2018 after ousting his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in a no-confidence vote over corruption scandals involving the PP.
Local Spain
a day ago
- Local Spain
EXPLAINED: The five corruption probes troubling Spain's PM
Wife Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, has been under investigation since April 2024 for alleged corruption and influence peddling related to her time working at Madrid's Complutense University. This followed complaints from two groups with far-right ties: "Manos Limpias" (Clean Hands) and "Hazte Oír" (Make Your Voice Heard). She is also suspected of having illegally appropriated software financed by private companies and initially intended for the university. When the 50-year-old was questioned in court in December, she said she had "nothing to hide". The Socialist Party has dismissed the allegations against her as part of a "smear campaign" orchestrated by the right. Protestors carry an image of Begoña Gomez, the wife of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, outside the court where she was questioned as part of a probe into alleged misappropriation in Madrid. Photo: OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP. Ex-minister Sánchez's former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, formerly a member of his inner circle, is also under investigation. He has been accused of having taken kickbacks for contracts to buy masks and other medical supplies in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sánchez removed him from office in July 2021 and he was expelled from the Socialist Party in February 2024 when the affair broke. He still sits as an independent member of parliament. The investigation, which also concerns other possible rigged public contracts, took a dramatic turn on Thursday with the release of a police report implicating Santos Cerdán, the Socialist Party's number three, in the case. Cerdán, a longtime associate of Sánchez, stepped down from his role in the party and as a lawmaker in response. Brother The prime minister's younger brother, David Sánchez, has been under investigation since 2024 for alleged embezzlement, influence peddling and tax fraud following a complaint from Manos Limpias. The group accuses him of using his brother's influence to secure a public sector job in the southwestern province of Badajoz, which is run by the Socialists, and of collecting a salary without showing up to work --allegations he denies. Judicial leaks The prime minister's entourage is also accused of leaking information to the media for political reasons. The case in question is a tax fraud case involving the partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, head of the Madrid region and a leading figure in Spain's opposition conservative Popular Party. Alberto González Amador, a businessman, reportedly proposed a guilty plea deal to the public prosecutor's office by email in an attempt to avoid a trial and a possible jail term. This email was leaked to the press. Amador accused state prosecutors of having violated his right to privacy and in October the Supreme Court opened a probe into Spain's top prosecutor, Álvaro García Ortiz, who is accused of being behind the leak. The Supreme Court on Monday said that there is sufficient evidence to send Ortiz, who was appointed by Sánchez's government in 2022, to trial. Ortiz has denied leaking any information about Amador, either personally or through his office. Spain's top prosecutor Alvaro García Ortiz arrives to testify in the Supreme Court in Madrid. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) Leire Díez affair Socialist Party member Leire Díez is accused of carrying out a smear campaign against a police unit that investigated graft allegations against Sanchez's wife, brother and his former right-hand man. In leaked audio recordings, she appears to offer judicial leniency to a police commander and businessman in exchange for potentially compromising information on top members of the unit. She has denied the allegations, saying she was conducting research for a book and was not working on behalf of the party or Sánchez. She also resigned from the Socialist Party earlier this month.
Local Spain
a day ago
- Local Spain
Spain's PM says knew 'nothing' about corruption case
The case adds to mounting legal and political pressure on Sánchez, one of Europe's longest serving socialist leaders whose inner circle faces several ongoing investigations. Santos Cerdán, the party's organisation secretary and its third-highest ranked figure, is suspected of being an accomplice in the alleged improper awarding of public contracts, according to a newly published judicial report. Cerdán, a member of parliament, stepped down from all his positions "to defend" the government and the party, adding in a statement that he "never committed any illegal act". Shortly afterwards, Sánchez told a news conference he knew "absolutely nothing" about the corruption accusations against his longtime associate, having learned about them in the press earlier on Thursday. "We never should have trusted him," the premier said, adding that he had demanded that Cerdán step down. A judge said that a police report "reveals the existence of consistent evidence" suggesting that Cerdán acted in collusion with former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and the latter's former adviser, Koldo García Izaguirre, in exchange for financial gain. Cerdán's position became untenable after excerpts of recordings were published on Thursday in the press, reportedly capturing conversations with Ábalos and García. In the recordings, the three men appear to discuss secret commission payments by companies in exchange for public contracts. Cerdán has been invited to testify voluntarily before the Supreme Court on June 25th. Lawmakers from the main opposition Popular Party (PP) greeted Cerdán in parliament with chants of "resignation". "If anyone had doubts that there was a mafia-like network behind the ruling party and the government, I suppose those doubts have now been dispelled," PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo told reporters, while calling for Sánchez to resign. "This is unacceptable in a European Union country. A European prime minister wouldn't last 10 minutes after the revelations we've seen in recent weeks," he added. But Sánchez ruled out calling early elections, saying that the case 'does not affect the government of Spain, only the party". 'Smear campaign' Tens of thousands of people took part in a protest against Sánchez's government on Sunday in Madrid which was called by the PP. Ábalos, who served as transport minister from 2018 to 2021 and was once a key figure in Sánchez's administration, is accused of receiving illegal commissions through business contracts. He faces charges of corruption, influence peddling and embezzlement. Ábalos was dismissed from Sánchez's cabinet in 2021 and expelled from the Socialist Party earlier this year, but remains a member of parliament as an independent. His parliamentary immunity was lifted in January. During a court hearing in December, he denied receiving any kickbacks and maintained that there were no irregularities. Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez, are also the targets of separate investigations for graft. And Spain's top prosecutor, Alvaro Garcia Ortiz, who was appointed by Sánchez's government, is facing a possible trial over suspicions he leaked secret case files concerning the partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the powerful conservative leader of the Madrid region. The Spanish prime minister has dismissed the probes against members of his inner circle as part of a "smear campaign" carried out by the right wing to undermine his government. Sánchez came to power in June 2018 after ousting his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in a no-confidence vote over corruption scandals involving the PP.
