Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has categorically denied rumors of an alleged cardiovascular illness, accusing the right-wing opposition of spreading disinformation. Controversy intensified after a speech by Popular Party MP Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, who demanded the 'declassification' of the head of government's medical records. This incident has caused divisions within the opposition itself and sparked a lively debate over the privacy boundaries of public figures in the face of political warfare.

Prime Minister's Denial

Pedro Sánchez officially denied rumors of heart disease, calling them part of a right-wing disinformation campaign directed against his government.

Controversial PP Question

Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo from the Popular Party demanded the disclosure of the Prime Minister's medical records, causing consternation even among her party colleagues.

Privacy Debate

The incident sparked a nationwide discussion about to what extent the health of a head of government should remain under public scrutiny.

The Spanish political scene has become the arena for an unprecedented clash concerning the head of government's health. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, during a control session in the Congress of Deputies, unequivocally denied reports about his health problems. He announced that his cabinet intends to continue its work and called the circulating rumors part of a 'mud-slinging machine' aimed at destabilizing the state. The matter gained momentum when Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo from the opposition Popular Party (PP) publicly inquired about the socialist leader's condition, suggesting the need to disclose his medical history. MP Álvarez de Toledo's stance was met with a cold reception even within her own party. Media noted clear gestures of discomfort among PP deputies during her speech, and the party leadership is now trying to distance itself from this radical rhetoric, aiming to 'close the subject'. Commentators and journalists, such as Iñaki López or Cristina Almeida, sharply criticized introducing conspiracy theories into parliament, calling it irresponsibility and infamy. This debate revived the broader question of whether a country leader's health is a private matter or an issue of state importance, recalling historical cases like Angela Merkel's tremors or Donald Trump's injuries. Increased polarization in Spain often leads to the use of fake news in public debate, a phenomenon that has intensified since the constitutional crisis in Catalonia in 2017. This situation coincided with a discussion about declassifying documents related to the coup attempt of February 23, 1981. Writer Javier Cercas noted that while transparency of documents does not completely eliminate lies, it limits the maneuvering room for conspiracy theorists. In Sánchez's case, accusations of illness are treated by the government side as an attempt to dehumanize a political opponent. Meanwhile, some conservative media, like 'El Mundo', maintain a critical tone towards the Prime Minister, ironically calling him a 'pseudo-president' and sustaining doubts about the transparency of his office. „No padezco ninguna enfermedad cardiovascular. Queda Gobierno para rato.” (I do not suffer from any cardiovascular disease. This government will last for a long time yet.) — Pedro Sánchez

Mentioned People

  • Pedro Sánchez — Prime Minister of Spain and leader of the PSOE party.
  • Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo — Spanish journalist and Popular Party politician, known for controversial statements.
  • Javier Cercas — Prominent Spanish writer and publicist.
  • Iñaki López — Spanish television journalist hosting programs on LaSexta.
  • Cristina Almeida — Spanish lawyer and left-wing politician.