Latest news with #Cerdán
Local Spain
2 days ago
- Politics
- 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spain's Socialist PM begs for forgiveness over corruption
Spain's Left-wing prime minister has apologised for a series of corruption scandals within his Socialist party. Pedro Sanchez's expression of regret came hours after a close ally was implicated in a bribery scandal. 'I apologise to citizens and Socialist party members and activists,' the prime minister said in a press conference at the party's headquarters in Madrid, on Thursday. Two hours earlier, Santos Cerdán, the party secretary, resigned when Spanish press reported that the police had evidence linking him with a scheme in which companies were charged in return for government contracts. Mr Sánchez admitted to being 'mistaken' in placing his trust in Mr Cerdán, one of his closest aides for a decade, but ruled out resigning or calling a snap election before the scheduled date in 2027. He said he had asked Mr Cerdán to step down and promised an audit of the party's finances, given the suspicion that the former secretary may have been gathering funds for political campaigns. 'Zero corruption is impossible but we must show zero tolerance when it occurs,' Mr Sánchez said. In a letter announcing his resignation from his party post and as an MP, Mr Cerdán denied committing any illegal acts and said he would fight to clear his name. The allegations stem from an an ongoing police investigation into José Luis Ábalos, Mr Cerdán's predecessor, who is suspected of taking bribes from business owners in exchange for public contracts during his four-year spell as transport and infrastructure minister. The report contains transcripts of conversations involving Mr Ábalos, his advisor and Mr Cerdán, in which the latter is described as 'managing' the receipt of more than €600,000 in payments from a construction company. The Socialists came second to the conservative People's Party (PP) in 2023, but narrowly held onto power by forming a minority Left-wing coalition. Since then, the increasingly beleaguered Mr Sánchez has seen his wife and brother, as well as party officials, placed under investigation for alleged corruption offences. His government has failed to pass any major legislative reforms or renew the state budget due to the lack of a parliamentary majority. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the opposition PP party, said Mr Sánchez must resign as his rule had become 'repugnant'. 'He is insulting the intelligence of citizens by claiming he did not know what this party secretary or the previous incumbent were up to.' After Mr Sánchez's press conference, a group of far-Right protestors converged on the Socialist party headquarters. They were seen giving what appeared to be Nazi salutes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Spain's prime minister asks nation for forgiveness after high court investigates a close confidant
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday asked the nation for forgiveness after a close confidant in his Socialist Party was put under investigation for his alleged participation in a kickback scheme. The damaging case is the latest legal scandal — none of which have gone beyond the preliminary investigation phase — that have dogged Sánchez's inner party circle and his family for the past year. Sánchez himself hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. ¨I want to ask forgiveness to the public because the Socialist Party and myself as its general secretary not should have trusted him,' he said, referring to Socialist lawmaker Santos Cerdán. Sánchez spoke hours after Spain's Supreme Court said that Cerdán is suspected of being involved in an alleged kickback scheme for government contracts. It was part of an ongoing investigation that already had pointed to the participation of another former minister in Sánchez's government. Cerdán was the Socialist Party's No. 3 official until he resigned from that post on Thursday. 'I have known Santos Cerdán since 2011 … and worked arm in arm with him,' he said, adding that no matter what happens in the court case 'this is an enormous disappointment.' Speaking at the Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid, Sánchez repeatedly asked Spaniards for forgiveness and said that he had learned of the corruption charges against Cerdán only hours before. Sánchez said that Cerdán is defending his innocence. The public act of contrition by Sánchez comes around 14 months after he took five days off to consider his political future when a judge launched an investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling. Instead of resigning, he said he would fight on and denounced what he called a 'smear campaign' by media outlets aligned with right-wing political leanings. On Thursday, the Spanish leader said that he would order an external audit of the Socialist Party's accounts, but he refused to call an early election like his political opponents have demanded for months. 'There won't be elections until 2027, because this is not about me or the Socialist Party. This is about a project to bring positive change to the country,' Sánchez said. Despite leading a minority government, Sánchez said that he was sure he could finish out his four-year term. He has so far maintained the backing of his government's junior members and a myriad of smaller regional and leftist parties in parliament. 'There is no crisis in my government,' Sánchez said. As secretary of the Socialist Party organization, Cerdán held the third-most powerful position in the prime minister's party. Shortly after the court made public that there were sufficient indications that Cerdán was involved in the alleged kickback scheme, Cerdán renounced his seat in parliament and his party posts. While never a minister, Cerdán was charged with sensitive political negotiations, including the key talks between the Socialists and Catalan separatist parties that allowed Sánchez to form a new government in late 2023. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. One of Europe's longest-serving leaders, the 53-year-old Sánchez has displayed adroit negotiating skills to stay in power since 2018, when he led Spain's only successful no-confidence motion against his conservative Popular Party predecessor. This week, Spain's Supreme Court also announced that it would put the country's prosecutor general on trial over allegations of leaking confidential information in a tax fraud case involving the boyfriend of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative head of the Madrid region and one of Sánchez's main political rivals. Last Sunday, tens of thousands of people protested in Madrid against Sánchez in a rally that was organized by the Popular Party under the slogan 'mafia or democracy.' ___ Joseph Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
Local Spain
2 days ago
- Politics
- Local Spain
Plot thickens in corruption case involving Spain's ruling party and PM
Santos Cerdán, the party's organisation secretary and its third-ranking figure, is suspected of being an accomplice in the alleged improper awarding of a public contract during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a newly published judicial report. A judge said a police report "reveals the existence of consistent evidence" suggesting Cerdán acted in collusion with former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and his former adviser, Koldo García Izaguirre, in exchange for financial gain. Cerdán, who is also a member of parliament, has been invited to testify voluntarily before the Supreme Court on June 25th. Due to his parliamentary immunity, he cannot be formally charged unless the court proceeds with further steps. "I am absolutely not afraid. I am completely certain that I will not be accused of corruption," he said as he arrived in parliament. The investigation centres on public procurement of medical equipment during the early months of the pandemic. 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 there were no irregularities. Sanchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez, are also the target of separate investigations for graft. 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 can no longer hide: he owes the country explanations, resignations, and elections," the deputy leader of the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP), Cuca Gamarra, wrote on social network X on Thursday.
