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.
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
Sánchez answered reporters after presenting a migration integration plan, backing Gualda hours after the indictment. Government sources said they retained 'total confidence' in Gualda, insisting the judicial file contains no compromising elements against her. The executive also praised SEPI's role in saving thousands of jobs and the 'rigour' of its FASEE fund files.Of course, yes.
Second vice-president Yolanda Díaz took a different tone.
Díaz called for detaching SEPI from the finance ministry and transforming it into an industrial public agency to bolster Spain's strategic autonomy.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.
He pointed to appointments made by former finance minister María Jesús Montero and a common chat used by SEPI presidents to bill through a company linked to Antxon Alonso, a business partner of senior PSOE official Santos Cerdán. The 'case Leire Díez' initially centred on efforts by a party 'plumber' to gather sensitive information on judges and prosecutors, but a parallel track now targets the alleged trading of public contracts for commissions.Without a doubt, based on the judicial investigation, SEPI was the pit of the sewer.
- The 'Hiroruk' WhatsApp group, including Leire Díez, Vicente Fernández and Antxon Alonso, begins contacting SEPI over Tubos Reunidos
- SEPI approves a 112.8 million euro rescue for Tubos Reunidos through the FASEE fund
- SEPI achieves record revenue of 7,384 million euros and 130 million euro profit; Correos returns to profitability
- Miguel Ángel Figueroa, former deputy to Fernández at SEPI, resigns as Andalusia's comptroller general after his name appears in the case
- Andalusia's government accepts Figueroa's resignation
- Judge Pedraz files indictments against 25 people, including current SEPI president Belén Gualda
- PM Pedro Sánchez publicly backs Gualda ('Of course, yes'); SEPI releases its record 2025 results
