Spanish PM Vows To Fight On As Corruption Scandal Grows
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is fighting to keep his job, as corruption allegations prompted the resignation of a close aide and sparked tension in his minority coalition.
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.
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.
Most recent opinion polls show the PP holding a slim lead over the Socialists.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Spain slams EU inaction on Israel trade deal – DW – 06/26/2025
Spanish PM Sanchez wants the bloc to suspend a major trade deal with Israel over its Gaza conduct. But that looks unlikely. A brief hardening towards Israel appears to have dissipated after recent tensions with Iran. In the wake of a damning EU review of Israel's human rights record in Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez slammed his colleagues for not moving to suspend a trade deal with Israel despite what he called "the catastrophic situation of genocide." More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave over more than 18 months of Israeli bombardment, according to Hamas-run Gazan authorities. Israel vehemently denies accusations of genocide, maintaining that it is at war with the ruling militant Islamist group Hamas following a massive terror attack on Israeli territory in 2023. In a report distributed to the member states last week based on the findings and allegations of major international bodies, the European External Action Service found "indications" that Israel was breaching its duty to respect to human rights. The document, not public but made available to DW, highlighted possible indiscriminate attacks affecting the civilian population, Israel's blockade on food and medicine plus attacks on medical facilities as potential breaches. "There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations," the report concluded. Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Sanchez said it was "more than obvious that Israel is violating Article 2 of the EU-Israel agreement." "We have had 18 sanctions packages against Russia for its aggression [in Ukraine], and Europe, with its double standards, is not capable of suspending an association agreement," Sanchez said. Spain and Ireland are isolated among the 27 EU states in openly calling for the suspension of the deal in full, a move that would require unanimity and has therefore never been a serious prospect. Greece, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Bulgaria remain close allies of Israel. Berlin in particular has made its views clear, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz describing the move as "out of the question with the federal [German] government." Doing so would be a major commercial disruption, particularly for Israel, which buys a third of its goods from the EU. The accord, in force since 2000, covers everything from the two sides trading relationship – worth $50 billion each year for goods alone – up to political dialogue, and cooperation on research and technology. Another possibility, requiring only a qualified majority of 15 out of 27, would be the partial suspension of the deal, for example, its provisions on free trade or shutting Israel out of EU research funding programme Horizon. But multiple diplomatic sources told DW that the numbers weren't there either. Earlier in the week, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas officially presented the document to the member states for a first debate, already making clear there would be no immediate moves. "It is not intended to punish Israel, but to trigger concrete improvements for the people and the lives of people in Gaza," she said on Monday. "If the situation does not improve, then we can also discuss further measures and come back to this in July." On Thursday, EU leaders at the summit only "took note" of the report in their joint statement, making no reference to potential rights breaches, and said ministers should revisit the topic next month. At the same time, the 27 leaders deplored the "dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation." Spain has also been calling for an EU embargo on the sale of arms to Israel, with Germany one of the country's major suppliers, as well as more sanctions. However, Berlin recently reaffirmed it would keep selling Israel weapons, and without Germany on board, the move wouldn't have much impact. A few other countries, including Belgium, France and Sweden, have supported imposing additional EU sanctions on Israel, but these too require unanimity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Echoing Sanchez, Irish leader Michael Martin said he would tell his colleagues at the summit that "the people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure on Israel." According to Lisa Musiol of conflict resolution think tank Crisis Group, maximum pressure would entail an arms embargo, large-scale sanctions against members of the government or a full suspension of the Association Agreement. "But almost no European leader speaks about such measures," Musiol told DW in a written statement. "There is probably no foreign policy topic within the EU where member states are so divided." Last month, it looked for a brief moment like the EU was indeed collectively hardening its stance. The Dutch proposed the review of the Association Agreement, and the move was greenlit by a majority of EU states on May 20. This came shortly after France, Britain and Canada issued a rare joint statement condemning Israel's latest offensive in Gaza and described its restrictions on aid as being "wholly disproportionate," and possibly in breach of international humanitarian law. There was a distinctive feeling that policy could be shifting. Musiol of Crisis Group said that that window seemed now to have closed. "It seems that after the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, many member states have fallen into their old positions," she said. "Even those member states that have traditionally been strong supporters of Israel but had started to be more outspoken or critical, such as Germany or Italy, have changed their tone."
DW
4 days ago
- DW
‘Double standards': Spain slams EU inaction on Israel deal – DW – 06/26/2025
An EU report concluded Israel might be breaching human rights in Gaza. The bloc could suspend a major trade deal, but it won't. A brief hardening towards Israel appears to have dissipated after recent tensions with Iran. In the wake of a damning EU review of Israel's human rights record in Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez slammed his colleagues for not moving to suspend a trade deal with Israel despite what he called "the catastrophic situation of genocide." More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave over more than 18 months of Israeli bombardment, according to Hamas-run Gazan authorities. Israel vehemently denies accusations of genocide, maintaining that it is at war with the ruling militant Islamist group Hamas following a massive terror attack on Israeli territory in 2023. In a report distributed to the member states last week based on the findings and allegations of major international bodies, the European External Action Service found "indications" that Israel was breaching its duty to respect to human rights. The document, not public but made available to DW, highlighted possible indiscriminate attacks affecting the civilian population, Israel's blockade on food and medicine plus attacks on medical facilities as potential breaches. "There are indications that Israel would be in breach of its human rights obligations," the report concluded. Arriving at an EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Sanchez said it was "more than obvious that Israel is violating Article 2 of the EU-Israel agreement." "We have had 18 sanctions packages against Russia for its aggression [in Ukraine], and Europe, with its double standards, is not capable of suspending an association agreement," Sanchez said. Spain and Ireland are isolated among the 27 EU states in openly calling for the suspension of the deal in full, a move that would require unanimity and has therefore never been a serious prospect. Greece, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Bulgaria remain close allies of Israel. Berlin in particular has made its views clear, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz describing the move as "out of the question with the federal [German] government." Doing so would be a major commercial disruption, particularly for Israel, which buys a third of its goods from the EU. The accord, in force since 2000, covers everything from the two sides trading relationship – worth $50 billion each year for goods alone – up to political dialogue, and cooperation on research and technology. Another possibility, requiring only a qualified majority of 15 out of 27, would be the partial suspension of the deal, for example, its provisions on free trade or shutting Israel out of EU research funding programme Horizon. But multiple diplomatic sources told DW that the numbers weren't there either. Earlier in the week, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas officially presented the document to the member states for a first debate, already making clear there would be no immediate moves. "It is not intended to punish Israel, but to trigger concrete improvements for the people and the lives of people in Gaza," she said on Monday. "If the situation does not improve, then we can also discuss further measures and come back to this in July." On Thursday, EU leaders at the summit only "took note" of the report in their joint statement, making no reference to potential rights breaches, and said ministers should revisit the topic next month. At the same time, the 27 leaders deplored the "dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation." Spain has also been calling for an EU embargo on the sale of arms to Israel, with Germany one of the country's major suppliers, as well as more sanctions. However, Berlin recently reaffirmed it would keep selling Israel weapons, and without Germany on board, the move wouldn't have much impact. A few other countries, including Belgium, France and Sweden, have supported imposing additional EU sanctions on Israel, but these too require unanimity. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Echoing Sanchez, Irish leader Michael Martin said he would tell his colleagues at the summit that "the people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure on Israel." According to Lisa Musiol of conflict resolution think tank Crisis Group, maximum pressure would entail an arms embargo, large-scale sanctions against members of the government or a full suspension of the Association Agreement. "But almost no European leader speaks about such measures," Musiol told DW in a written statement. "There is probably no foreign policy topic within the EU where member states are so divided." Last month, it looked for a brief moment like the EU was indeed collectively hardening its stance. The Dutch proposed the review of the Association Agreement, and the move was greenlit by a majority of EU states on May 20. This came shortly after France, Britain and Canada issued a rare joint statement condemning Israel's latest offensive in Gaza and described its restrictions on aid as being "wholly disproportionate," and possibly in breach of international humanitarian law. There was a distinctive feeling that policy could be shifting. Musiol of Crisis Group said that that window seemed now to have closed. "It seems that after the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, many member states have fallen into their old positions," she said. "Even those member states that have traditionally been strong supporters of Israel but had started to be more outspoken or critical, such as Germany or Italy, have changed their tone."
DW
4 days ago
- DW
Spain: Top court backs amnesty for Catalan separatists – DW – 06/26/2025
Spain's Constitutional Court ruled to uphold most aspects of the disputed amnesty law for Catalan separatists. However, the ruling does not directly benefit former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont. Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld key provisions of a disputed amnesty law for Catalan separatists involved in a failed 2017 push for the Catalonia's independence. Under the law, more than 300 people have been pardoned. "This is magnificent news for Spain," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters in Brussels, adding that the amnesty served "to guarantee Spain's unity as well as our development and prosperity and coexistence between citizens and regions." In 2023, Sanchez's Socialist Party agreed to an amnesty with two Catalan separatist parties. The agreement was made in exchange for their support in a parliamentary vote, which allowed Sanchez to remain prime minister after the elections resulted in a hung parliament. Last year, lawmakers narrowly approved the bill, but the conservative opposition has deemed the legislation unconstitutional. They claim it was passed solely as a Socialist maneuver to ensure their continued rule. The Constitutional Court announced that it had rejected most points of an appeal by the opposition conservative People's Party (PP) against the amnesty's constitutionality by a vote of six to four. "Amnesty is not banned by the Constitution, and its adoption, when it responds to an exceptional situation and a legitimate public interest, may be constitutionally admissible," the court, which has a majority of judges nominated by the Socialists, said in a statement. The Constitutional Court's ruling offers some relief to Sanchez and his Socialist Party, which has been caught up in corruption allegations involving senior officials. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo denounced the amnesty as "a corrupt transaction of impunity in exchange for power" and "an attack against the separation of powers." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Constitutional Court ruling does not directly benefit Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan separatist leader who fled abroad to avoid prosecution after leading Catalonia's regional administration during the 2017 referendum. He currently lives in self-imposed exile in Belgium. The judge handling Puigdemont's case said the amnesty does not apply to him because he is also being sued for embezzlement in diverting funds for the referendum, a charge he denies. Puigdemont has appealed the decision, saying that the funds earmarked for the referendum were not for his personal gain. According to a court spokesperson, the Constitutional Court will not rule on the matter until later this year or next. The separatist leader was Catalonia's head of government in 2017, when the region unilaterally declared independence from Spain. This prompted Madrid to impose direct control, sparking Spain's worst political crisis in decades.
