Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is facing a long and difficult summer as corruption cases involving his brother, his wife and his predecessor José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero come before judges over the coming days and weeks.
Brother’s trial
The prime minister’s younger brother, David Sánchez, will go on trial in the south-west region of Extremadura on Thursday, accused of influence peddling and misuse of public office. Ten other people face the same charges. The case springs from a complaint brought by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a self-styled trade union with far-right links. According to the complaint, David Sánchez was handed a bespoke job by the socialist-led council of Badajoz in July 2017, when his brother was the national leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) but not yet prime minister. David Sánchez, who denies the charges, faces a three-year prison term if found guilty.
Wife’s investigation
The prime minister’s wife, Begoña Gómez, has also found herself in court as the result of a complaint brought by Manos Limpias. Last month, a judge in Madrid charged Gómez with embezzlement, influence peddling, corruption in business dealings and misappropriation of funds at the end of a two-year investigation. She has been accused of using her influence as the wife of the prime minister to secure and manage a post at Madrid’s Complutense University, and of using public resources and personal connections to further her private interests. Gómez is due to appear before the judge at a preliminary hearing on 9 June.
Predecessor under scrutiny
Zapatero, who was prime minister from 2004 to 2011, has been placed under investigation for alleged influence peddling and other offences by a judge examining the state bailout of a Venezuela-linked airline during the Covid pandemic. The investigation is part of an inquiry into the €53m (£46m) state rescue of the Spanish airline Plus Ultra in March 2021. Prosecutors are examining whether the company made “inadequate use” of the public funds, while anti-corruption police are investigating whether the airline used the rescue money to launder funds from Venezuela. Zapatero has insisted on his innocence and is scheduled to give evidence on 17 and 18 June.
Prime minister’s reaction
When news broke in April 2024 that his wife had been placed under investigation, Sánchez cancelled his public duties for five days while he mulled his political future. He accused his political and media enemies of launching a “harassment and bullying operation” against his family, but decided to remain in office. He has maintained that his wife and his brother are the victims of politically motivated smear campaigns, and has said: “The truth will come out in the end. My brother and my wife are innocent.” He has also backed Zapatero, saying he saw “no reason” to withdraw his support.
Other cases
In June last year, Sánchez ordered Santos Cerdán, the PSOE’s organisational secretary, to resign after a supreme court judge found “firm evidence” of his possible involvement in taking kickbacks on public construction contracts. Cerdán has denied any wrongdoing. The former transport minister José Luis Ábalos is accused – along with his former aide Koldo García and the businessman Víctor de Aldama – of taking kickbacks on public contracts for sanitary equipment during the Covid pandemic. Additionally, in November last year, Spain’s top prosecutor was banned from his post for two years after being found guilty of leaking confidential information.
What’s next?
In a statement released after recent searches at its HQ, the PSOE said it would “always maintain a position of maximum collaboration with the justice system”. Sánchez has dismissed calls for an early general election, arguing Spain needs “stability”. But his opponents are pushing for next year’s election to be brought forward. The PP leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, said: “The only choice left is to let the Spanish people have their say right now.” Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, said: “Not a week, not a day, not an hour goes by without new details emerging about the mafia that governs Spain … They must be stopped and taken to court.”
