Latest news with #Socialist-appointed
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Spain PM Announces Anti-Graft Plan As Scandal Rocks Government
Spain: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced an anti-corruption plan designed with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in a bid to salvage confidence in his scandal-hit government. The implication of two former Socialist heavyweights and close Sanchez allies in a graft scandal has rocked the minority leftist coalition and thrown its viability into crisis is particularly sensitive for a leader who came to power in 2018 vowing to clean up Spanish politics after the rival conservative Popular Party (PP) was convicted in its own graft affair. Sanchez announced a 15-point plan drawn up with the Paris-based OECD's division for anti-corruption and integrity in government during an address to include the creation of an independent public integrity agency to prevent, supervise and prosecute corruption, with Sanchez saying existing mechanisms have "generated inefficiencies and vacuums of coordination".Enhanced data analysis aided by artificial intelligence will scan for "vulnerabilities" in public tenders, said Sanchez, after his former right-hand men were suspected of receiving kickbacks in the improper awarding of such contracts. Top officials would also undergo "random and annual wealth checks" during their time in the job, while parties and foundations receiving public funds above 50,000 euros ($58,500) would be obliged to face external would receive greater protection, specialised sections in courts would be created and the criminal code reformed to harshen punishments for offences against the public administration, added Sanchez. A bombshell police report into the scandal released last month implicated ex-transport minister Jose Luis Abalos and former top Socialist official Santos Cerdan, both key figures in Sanchez's rise to power. Sanchez revealed he had considered resigning over the affair, apologising but defying the opposition by vowing not to "throw in the towel" and call early elections. Government wobbles Since the police report, Cerdan has relinquished his powerful post as Socialist organisation secretary and as an MP, while the party definitively expelled array of far-left and regional separatist parties propping up the government had demanded firm anti-corruption measures as the price for their continued support. Sanchez described the plan as "the biggest boost" to the fight against corruption in Spain "in recent decades".But PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo dismissed Sanchez's explanations and reform efforts, saying the Socialists had "operated like a criminal organisation" for years. "We don't know where your direct responsibility begins and where it ends... How will you get us out of this nightmare if you got us into it?" he replied to Sanchez, demanding elections. Separate investigations are underway against Sanchez's wife, brother and Socialist-appointed top public prosecutor, ratcheting up the pressure on one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders.
Int'l Business Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Spain PM Announces Anti-graft Plan As Scandal Rocks Govt
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday announced an anti-corruption plan designed with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in a bid to salvage confidence in his scandal-hit government. The implication of two former Socialist heavyweights and close Sanchez allies in a graft scandal has rocked the minority leftist coalition and thrown its viability into doubt. The crisis is particularly sensitive for a leader who came to power in 2018 vowing to clean up Spanish politics after the rival conservative Popular Party (PP) was convicted in its own graft affair. Sanchez announced a 15-point plan drawn up with the Paris-based OECD's division for anti-corruption and integrity in government during an address to parliament. They include the creation of an independent public integrity agency to prevent, supervise and prosecute corruption, with Sanchez saying existing mechanisms have "generated inefficiencies and vacuums of coordination". Enhanced data analysis aided by artificial intelligence will scan for "vulnerabilities" in public tenders, said Sanchez, after his former right-hand men were suspected of receiving kickbacks in the improper awarding of such contracts. Top officials would also undergo "random and annual wealth checks" during their time in the job, while parties and foundations receiving public funds above 50,000 euros ($58,500) would be obliged to face external audits. Whistleblowers would receive greater protection, specialised sections in courts would be created and the criminal code reformed to harshen punishments for offences against the public administration, added Sanchez. A bombshell police report into the scandal released last month implicated ex-transport minister Jose Luis Abalos and former top Socialist official Santos Cerdan, both key figures in Sanchez's rise to power. Sanchez revealed he had considered resigning over the affair, apologising but defying the opposition by vowing not to "throw in the towel" and call early elections. Since the police report, Cerdan has relinquished his powerful post as Socialist organisation secretary and as an MP, while the party definitively expelled Abalos. The array of far-left and regional separatist parties propping up the government had demanded firm anti-corruption measures as the price for their continued support. Sanchez described the plan as "the biggest boost" to the fight against corruption in Spain "in recent decades". But PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo dismissed Sanchez's explanations and reform efforts, saying the Socialists had "operated like a criminal organisation" for years. "We don't know where your direct responsibility begins and where it ends... How will you get us out of this nightmare if you got us into it?" he replied to Sanchez, demanding elections. Separate investigations are underway against Sanchez's wife, brother and Socialist-appointed top public prosecutor, ratcheting up the pressure on one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders.
Local Spain
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Spanish police enter ruling Socialist HQ in corruption probe
A police report released last week implicated Socialist heavyweight Santos Cerdán and ex-transport minister Jose Luis Ábalos in receiving kickbacks in the improper awarding of public contracts. In a ruling issued on Friday, a Supreme Court judge ordered the Civil Guard to clone the contents of Cerdán's work email account at the Socialist headquarters. The judge also requested information on Cerdán's bank accounts and wealth, summoning him to testify on June 30th, and instructed officers to clone Ábalos's email account at the transport ministry. The images of police entering Socialist headquarters are damaging for an administration that came to power in 2018 promising to clean up Spanish politics after the rival conservative Popular Party (PP) was convicted in its own graft affair. Cerdán has relinquished his powerful post as Socialist organisation secretary and as an MP. The party has definitively expelled Ábalos. The scandal has shaken the minority coalition with far-left formation Sumar and relations with an array of leftist and regional separatist parties the government depends on to pass legislation. Legal investigations are also underway against Sánchez's wife, brother and Socialist-appointed top prosecutor. But the Socialist premier, one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders, has rebuffed demands from the PP and far-right party Vox to resign and call early elections.
Local Spain
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Spain
Spain's PM rules out elections and dares opposition to file confidence motion
The case against a top Socialist official increases legal and political pressure on Sánchez, one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders whose inner circle faces several ongoing investigations. The main opposition Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox have demanded that Sanchez resign after a judicial report published last week suspected Socialist heavyweight Santos Cerdán of accepting kickbacks in the alleged improper awarding of public contracts. After an hours-long crisis meeting with top Socialist officials at party headquarters in Madrid, Sánchez ruled out calling early elections and hit back at the two opposition parties, who do not command a parliamentary majority. "They should present a no-confidence motion and tell parliament and the citizens what model of country they want for Spain," Sánchez said. The report also implicated José Luis Ábalos, a former transport minister and once a member of Sanchez's inner circle, and his ex-adviser Koldo García. Cerdán, the Socialists' third-highest ranked figure, resigned as its organisation secretary last week. On Monday, he relinquished his position as MP and the party definitively expelled Ábalos, who sits in parliament as an independent. Defending the Socialists' response to the case, Sánchez said his party was "clean" and would not "cover up the corruption that emerges in our ranks, however painful it may be". Sánchez again ruled out quitting or holding early elections, saying that he would conduct discussions this week with the far-left and Basque and Catalan separatist parties who backed his government. The PP reiterated its demand for Sánchez's resignation and early elections, with party spokesman Borja Semper telling reporters that "the only possible, dignified future is giving the Spanish people their say". As well as the Cerdán affair, legal investigations are ongoing against Sánchez's wife, brother and the country's Socialist-appointed top prosecutor.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Embattled Spain PM dares opposition to file confidence motion
MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday challenged the conservative opposition to submit a no-confidence vote against his minority coalition government as a corruption scandal rocks his ruling Socialists. The case against a top Socialist official increases legal and political pressure on Sanchez, one of Europe's longest-serving leftist leaders whose inner circle faces several ongoing investigations. The main opposition Popular Party (PP) and far-right Vox have demanded that Sanchez resign after a judicial report published last week suspected Socialist heavyweight Santos Cerdan of accepting kickbacks in the alleged improper awarding of public contracts. After an hours-long crisis meeting with top Socialist officials at party headquarters in Madrid, Sanchez hit back at the two opposition parties, who do not command a parliamentary majority. 'They should present a no-confidence motion and tell parliament and the citizens what model of country they want for Spain,' Sanchez said. The report also implicated Jose Luis Abalos, a former transport minister and once a member of Sanchez's inner circle, and his ex-adviser Koldo Garcia. Cerdan, the Socialists' third-highest ranked figure, resigned as its organisation secretary last week. On Monday, he relinquished his position as MP and the party definitively expelled Abalos, who sits in parliament as an independent. Defending the Socialists' response to the case, Sanchez said his party was 'clean' and would not 'cover up the corruption that emerges in our ranks, however painful it may be'. Sanchez again ruled out quitting or holding early elections, saying that he would conduct discussions this week with the far-left and Basque and Catalan separatist parties who backed his government. The PP reiterated its demand for Sanchez's resignation and early elections, with party spokesman Borja Semper telling reporters that 'the only possible, dignified future is giving the Spanish people their say'. As well as the Cerdan affair, legal investigations are ongoing against Sanchez's wife, brother and the country's Socialist-appointed top prosecutor.
