Latest news with #SantosCerdan
Local Spain
15 hours ago
- Politics
- 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.
France 24
16 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Spanish PM vows to fight on as corruption scandal grows
The scandal erupted on Thursday after the Supreme Court said Santos Cerdan, the third-highest ranking figure in Sanchez'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. Sanchez 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 Sanchez'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 Sanchez 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 Diaz, 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. Sanchez's fragile minority government relies on Junts to pass laws in parliament. Paloma Roman, a political science professor at Madrid's Complutense University, said Sanchez may be forced to call a confidence vote to reassert control. "What Sanchez 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 Lopez, a cabinet minister who is close to Sanchez, 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 Sanchez to step down. But PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo, has ruled out the idea of proposing a motion in parliament to try to topple Sanchez, warning it could backfire and bolster the Socialist leader if it fails. He instead urged Sanchez's allies to reconsider their support, saying they would be complicit in "the biggest wave of corruption" if they refused. Analysts say Sanchez'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 Sanchez fall -- not out of love, but because they fear a PP-Vox government even more," said Roman. Sanchez came to power in June 2018 after ousting his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, in a no-confidence vote over corruption scandals involving the PP.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Spanish Premier Rules Out Early Vote Amid Graft Allegations
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he won't call early elections following graft allegations involving one of his top aide, adding that there will be no vote until 2027, when the government's mandate ends. Sanchez's senior adviser Santos Cerdan had previously stepped down as member of the parliament as well as from his role of senior Socialist party official. He denied wrongdoing.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Spain's PM rejects calls for snap election as scandals mount
MADRID, June 12 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked citizens for forgiveness after his close ally quit his posts earlier on Thursday over graft allegations, and said his Socialist Party would undergo an external audit, but rejected the opposition's calls for an early election. "We should not have trusted him (Santos Cerdan)," a sombre-looking Sanchez told a news briefing at his Socialist Party's headquarters, acknowledging that the accusations against him were very serious. With various scandals swirling around his minority government, the case poses one of the biggest threats yet to the survival of the country's fragile leftist coalition government. Sanchez said, however, most of the attacks on his government were not grounded in reality.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Spanish judge calls on top Sanchez ally to testify over alleged public works kickbacks
MADRID, June 12 (Reuters) - A Spanish Supreme Court judge on Thursday invited a senior official in Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party to testify, saying there was evidence he was involved in kickbacks from construction companies in exchange for public contracts. In a report provided to Judge Leopoldo Puente, police said they had a recording of Santos Cerdan, a lawmaker and the Socialist Party's organisational secretary, discussing kickbacks with former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, according to the left-leaning radio station Cadena Ser. The judge, who unsealed the case on Thursday, called for Cerdan to testify on June 25 after finding "there is strong evidence of the possible involvement" of Cerdan in the "improper awarding of the aforementioned public works in exchange for a price," according to a court statement. Such acts constitute crimes of criminal organisation and bribery, the statement said. Sanchez's fragile coalition has been hit by a series of allegations over the past year that have threatened to destabilise the government, including a high-profile probe into whether his wife Begona Gomez used her status to influence her business dealings. Cerdan on Thursday said he had no recollection of the conversation. "I have not been involved in any such conversation and this afternoon or tomorrow, when we know the contents of the report, I will call a press conference to which you are all invited," he said in comments to the press in parliament. The Socialist Party on Wednesday said Cerdan was innocent and would provide explanations once the police report was made public. "Santos Cerdan neither participated in nor influenced the awarding of public works contracts. He has never received a commission for doing so," it said in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
