On July 30, 2025, a significant update emerged in the ongoing corruption investigation involving Spain’s Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The Supreme Court remanded Santos Cerdán, the former organizational secretary and a key aide to Sánchez, into custody following a judge’s finding of “firm evidence” of his potential involvement in a kickback scheme tied to public construction contracts. The investigation, initiated by the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit (UCO), uncovered evidence suggesting Cerdán collaborated with former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and his aide Koldo García to secure illegal commissions, with amounts estimated in the hundreds of thousands of euros. Cerdán resigned from his party role and parliamentary seat earlier this month and is scheduled to testify in court, maintaining his innocence. The UCO’s nearly 500-page report, released last week, detailed recorded conversations supporting these allegations, prompting Sánchez to demand Cerdán’s resignation and apologize to the public. The scandal has intensified political pressure, with the opposition Popular Party (PP) organizing a rally of 50,000 supporters in Madrid on June 8, 2025, calling for Sánchez’s resignation under the slogan “mafia or democracy.” Sánchez has ruled out snap elections, opting to restructure the PSOE leadership and order an independent audit of party finances. The investigation also extends to Ábalos and García, both of whom deny wrongdoing, while Sánchez faces additional probes involving his wife and brother, though they too deny any misconduct. The PSOE federal committee meeting this weekend aimed to address the fallout, but the situation escalated with Francisco Salazar’s resignation on Friday over sexual harassment allegations by female party workers, as reported by elDiario. This adds another layer to the crisis, with the PP labeling it evidence of poor judgment. Sánchez remains committed to completing his term until 2027, supported by his fragile coalition, though minor partners like Sumar are demanding accountability.
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