Political Crisis in Spain: Dispute Over Sánchez's Health and Progress in Corruption Scandals

Spanish politics has found itself at the center of an information storm, where ethical issues intertwine with serious corruption allegations. The most controversy was sparked by the initiative of Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, spokesperson for the opposition People's Party (PP), who publicly called for the "declassification of the medical history" of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This move was met with immediate criticism not only from the ruling camp but also from within her own party, where gestures of impatience and distancing from this strategy were noted. Commentators and journalists describe these actions as spreading disinformation and crossing "red lines" of public debate. Critics argue that the privacy of a national leader, as long as it does not affect his ability to perform his duties, should remain protected. In parallel, a legal and parliamentary offensive is underway regarding economic matters. The People's Party has decided to summon Deputy Prime Minister María Jesús Montero before a Senate investigative committee. The hearing is to concern the role of the state holding company SEPI in decision-making processes related to controversial subsidies. Particular attention is drawn to the case of the airline Plus Ultra. The judge leading the investigation decided to transfer the case files to the Audiencia Nacional, arguing that the case has taken on a new, broader dimension that exceeds the jurisdiction of lower courts. Spanish politics has been grappling with systemic corruption for years, symbolized by the Gürtel case, which in 2018 led to the country's first successful vote of no confidence against the government of Mariano Rajoy. A crucial piece of the puzzle remains the report by the Central Operational Unit (UCO), which points to Isabel Pardo de Vera, a former Secretary of State, as a key figure in facilitating business contacts within the so-called mask scandal. Although investigators do not attribute direct personal enrichment to her, her name appears in the context of recommending contacts to close government associates during the peak of the pandemic. At the same time, the judge handling the Koldo García case postponed the deadline for Víctor de Aldama to provide evidence of alleged irregularities in the financing of the ruling PSOE party. The wait for the famous "envelope" containing evidence fuels media tension, although the procedural reasons for the delay are technical. „Es hora de desclasificar el historial médico del pseudopresidente.” (It is time to declassify the medical history of the pseudo-president.) — Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo The complexity of the situation is heightened by the fact that the opposition is demanding explanations regarding the government's ties to foreign intermediaries, including the so-called Chinese partner of Zapatero. The whole picture is completed by local investigations, such as the one in Alicante concerning the allocation of social housing, showing that pressure on law enforcement and political parties is currently multi-dimensional and affects almost every level of power.