Government · Madrid
Sánchez backs indicted SEPI president after judge charges 25 in influence-peddling probe
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared his support for Belén Gualda after a National Court judge indicted 25 people, including the SEPI president, in the widening Leire Díez investigation into alleged contract rigging and kickbacks.
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In brief
National Court judge Santiago Pedraz charged Belén Gualda and 24 others with influence-peddling, misappropriation and bid-rigging linked to five public operations worth 132.9 million euros.
Hours after the indictment, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said 'of course, yes' when asked if he supports the SEPI president, citing the government's total confidence and the lack of compromising evidence.
A 112.8 million euro bailout for the Basque steelmaker allegedly generated 247,459 euros in illicit commissions for the network, guided by a WhatsApp group involving ex-SEPI chief Vicente Fernández.
On the day after the indictments, SEPI reported 7,384 million euros in revenue and 130 million profit for 2025, driven by Correos' return to profit and increased defence investments.
Second vice-president Yolanda Díaz demanded that SEPI be detached from the finance ministry and transformed into a fully industrial public agency, while insisting on judicial accountability.
- 17 JunAndalusia's government accepts Figueroa's resignation
- 29 JunJudge Pedraz files indictments against 25 people, including current SEPI president Belén Gualda
- 30 JunPM Pedro Sánchez publicly backs Gualda ('Of course, yes'); SEPI releases its record 2025 results
The investigation
National Court judge Santiago Pedraz indicted 25 current and former officials and business leaders on charges of criminal organization, bid-rigging, influence-peddling and misuse of public funds. The case focuses on five operations handled by the state holding company SEPI, with 132.9 million euros in public money allegedly funnelled through manipulated contracts. The alleged plot pocketed about 750,614 euros, according to Guardia Civil's UCO unit. The largest single transaction was a 112.8 million euro rescue package for Basque steelmaker Tubos Reunidos granted in July 2021, from which the network is suspected of extracting 247,459 euros.
The indictments name SEPI president Belén Gualda, former Enusa president José Vicente Berlanga, former Tubos Reunidos chairman Francisco Irazusta, current Tubos CEO Carlos López de las Heras, former Mercasa president José Ramón Sempere Vera, Forestalia founder Fernando Samper, and Miguel Ángel Figueroa, who recently resigned as comptroller general of Andalusia. Figueroa had been a close aide to ex-SEPI president Vicente Fernández, a central figure in the case. Court documents reference a WhatsApp group, dubbed 'Hiroruk', through which Fernández, businessman Antxon Alonso and former PSOE militant Leire Díez are alleged to have coordinated efforts to influence SEPI decisions.
Political response
“Of course, yes.”
Second vice-president Yolanda Díaz took a different tone.
“What happened must be investigated, and if there is any responsibility, the full weight of the law.”
Record results amid storm
A day after the indictments, SEPI published record 2025 figures: 7,384 million euros in revenue, up 16% from 2024, and 130 million euros in net profit. The holding attributed the performance to recoveries at Correos, which returned to a 14.4 million euro profit after years of losses, and strong business at Navantia and Tragsa. It also highlighted 529 million euros in investments, 63% more than the previous year, concentrated in defence, energy and telecoms.
Criticism and 'cloaca' claims
Analyst Santiago Martínez-Vares, speaking on La Sexta, linked the indictments to a deeper network.
“Without a doubt, based on the judicial investigation, SEPI was the pit of the sewer.”
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Sources and context
- LaSextaMartínez-Vares: "La SEPI era el pozo de la cloaca"
- 20 minutosSánchez apoya a la presidenta de la SEPI tras su imputación: "Por supuesto, claro que sí"
- EL MUNDOSánchez mantiene su apoyo a la presidenta de la Sepi tras su imputación: "Por supuesto, claro que sí"
- La RazónSánchez confirma su defensa de la presidenta de la SEPI tras su imputación: "Por supuesto, claro que sí"
- Belén Gualda
- President of the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), indicted in the Leire Díez case
- Pedro Sánchez
- Prime Minister of Spain, expressed support for Gualda
- Santiago Pedraz
- Judge of the National Court (Audiencia Nacional) who issued the indictments
- Vicente Fernández
- Former president of SEPI, central figure in the alleged corruption network
- Leire Díez
- Former PSOE militant whose name titles the corruption case, alleged to have gathered sensitive judicial information and helped broker contracts
- Antxon Alonso
- Businessman identified as a key partner of Vicente Fernández and Santos Cerdán, involved in invoicing for the network
- Yolanda Díaz
- Second vice-president of Spain, called for transforming SEPI into an industrial agency
- José Vicente Berlanga
- Former president of Enusa, indicted in the case
- Francisco Irazusta
- Former president of Tubos Reunidos, indicted in the case
- Carlos López de las Heras
- Current CEO of Tubos Reunidos, indicted in the case
- José Ramón Sempere Vera
- Former president of Mercasa, indicted in the case
- Fernando Samper
- Founder of Forestalia, indicted in the case
- Miguel Ángel Figueroa
- Former comptroller general of Andalusia and ex-director at SEPI, indicted after his name appeared in the plot's documentation
- Santiago Martínez-Vares
- Analyst who commented on the case, described SEPI as 'the pit of the sewer'
- Places
- Madrid
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