Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) announced the formation of a 7-member independent commission to investigate recent corruption allegations involving party officials, following a week of heightened scrutiny. The decision came after a judicial probe revealed evidence of a €1.5 million misallocation of funds linked to 9 regional contracts awarded between 2021 and 2024, implicating 4 former PSOE officials from the Valencia region. The investigation, led by Spain’s Civil Guard, identified irregularities in the bidding process, with 12 companies flagged for receiving contracts totaling €900,000. Separately, a 45-page report released on August 1 detailed allegations of a €300,000 bribe scheme involving a former PSOE transport official, prompting the official’s suspension and a scheduled court appearance on August 10. PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez addressed the party’s 18 regional branches, emphasizing a commitment to transparency and announcing a 90-day timeline for the commission’s findings, expected by November 1, 2025. The party also pledged to audit 150 public contracts valued over €5 million each, with results due by December 15, 2025. In response, the government allocated €2 million to enhance oversight mechanisms, including a new digital tracking system for public spending, set to launch by October 2025. This follows a series of 5 similar probes in the past year, with 23 officials investigated nationwide. The moves aim to reinforce accountability, with Sánchez highlighting plans to train 500 public administrators in anti-corruption practices by year-end.
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