Spanish authorities intensified their probe into alleged corruption within the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), focusing on former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and ex-party official Santos Cerdán. The Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil submitted new documents to the Supreme Court, detailing evidence of potential irregular payments totaling approximately €50 million linked to public works contracts. These documents suggest Ábalos may have facilitated contract awards in exchange for kickbacks between 2018 and 2023, with Cerdán allegedly involved in coordinating the financial transactions. Cerdán, who resigned from his parliamentary seat and party role on June 12, 2025, is scheduled to testify before the court on August 10, maintaining his innocence. Ábalos, expelled from PSOE in 2024, is set to appear on August 12, also denying any wrongdoing. The investigation expanded after a July 28 raid on PSOE headquarters in Madrid, where police copied Cerdán’s emails, ordered by Judge Leopoldo Puente. The probe now includes five businessmen not under investigation but linked to the contract rigging. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has not been directly implicated, addressed the issue on August 3, announcing an independent audit of party finances and promising decisive action. The scandal has prompted calls from opposition parties, including the Popular Party, for a parliamentary inquiry, though no snap elections have been scheduled. The case, originating from a 2024 investigation into pandemic-era mask purchases, now encompasses broader allegations of embezzlement and influence peddling, with 21 individuals currently under scrutiny.
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