Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is grappling with a sequence of authorized probes involving his inside circle, together with his spouse, brother and a former transport minister. Here’s a take a look at the authorized instances troubling one among Europe’s longest-serving leaders.
Spouse
Sánchez’s spouse, Begoña Gómez, has been below investigation since April 2024 for alleged corruption and affect peddling associated to her time working at Madrid’s Complutense College.
This adopted complaints from two teams with far-right ties: “Manos Limpias” (Clear Palms) and “Hazte Oír” (Make Your Voice Heard).
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She can also be suspected of getting illegally appropriated software program financed by personal corporations and initially supposed for the college.
When the 50-year-old was questioned in courtroom in December, she stated she had “nothing to cover”.
The Socialist Celebration has dismissed the allegations towards her as a part of a “smear marketing campaign” orchestrated by the fitting.
Protestors carry a picture of Begoña Gomez, the spouse of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, outdoors the courtroom the place she was questioned as a part of a probe into alleged misappropriation in Madrid. Picture: OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP.
Ex-minister
Sánchez’s former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, previously a member of his inside circle, can also be below investigation.
He has been accused of getting taken kickbacks for contracts to purchase masks and different medical provides in 2020 throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sánchez eliminated him from workplace in July 2021 and he was expelled from the Socialist Celebration in February 2024 when the affair broke. He nonetheless sits as an impartial member of parliament.
The investigation, which additionally considerations different potential rigged public contracts, took a dramatic activate Thursday with the discharge of a police report implicating Santos Cerdán, the Socialist Celebration’s quantity three, within the case.
Cerdán, a longtime affiliate of Sánchez, stepped down from his position within the occasion and as a lawmaker in response.
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez (L) and former Spanish Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos. (Picture by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)
Brother
The prime minister’s youthful brother, David Sánchez, has been below investigation since 2024 for alleged embezzlement, affect peddling and tax fraud following a grievance from Manos Limpias.
The group accuses him of utilizing his brother’s affect to safe a public sector job within the southwestern province of Badajoz, which is run by the Socialists, and of accumulating a wage with out displaying as much as work –allegations he denies.
David Sánchez, brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, shall be tried on corruption costs. Picture: Ministry of Tradition
Judicial leaks
The prime minister’s entourage can also be accused of leaking info to the media for political causes.
The case in query is a tax fraud case involving the associate of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, head of the Madrid area and a number one determine in Spain’s opposition conservative Well-liked Celebration.
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Alberto González Amador, a businessman, reportedly proposed a responsible plea deal to the general public prosecutor’s workplace by electronic mail in an try and keep away from a trial and a potential jail time period. This electronic mail was leaked to the press.
Amador accused state prosecutors of getting violated his proper to privateness and in October the Supreme Courtroom opened a probe into Spain’s prime prosecutor, Álvaro García Ortiz, who’s accused of being behind the leak.
The Supreme Courtroom on Monday stated that there’s enough proof to ship Ortiz, who was appointed by Sánchez’s authorities in 2022, to trial.
Ortiz has denied leaking any details about Amador, both personally or by way of his workplace.
Spain’s prime prosecutor Alvaro García Ortiz arrives to testify within the Supreme Courtroom in Madrid. (Picture by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Leire Díez affair
Socialist Celebration member Leire Díez is accused of finishing up a smear marketing campaign towards a police unit that investigated graft allegations towards Sanchez’s spouse, brother and his former right-hand man.
In leaked audio recordings, she seems to supply judicial leniency to a police commander and businessman in alternate for doubtlessly compromising info on prime members of the unit.
She has denied the allegations, saying she was conducting analysis for a e-book and was not engaged on behalf of the occasion or Sánchez. She additionally resigned from the Socialist Celebration earlier this month.
Former Spanish Socialist Celebration (PSOE) member Leire Díez speaks throughout a press convention in Madrid, on June 4, 2025. (Picture by Thomas COEX / AFP)
