Sánchez denies widespread corruption in parliament as probes close in on his wife and former allies
Pedro Sánchez denounced 'attempts to confuse' and refused to resign as a series of judicial probes, a jail sentence and a travel ban narrowed in on his inner circle.
Parliamentary showdown
Facing mounting investigations into his political family and his own household, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told the Spanish parliament on Wednesday that there was no 'widespread corruption' inside his government. He acknowledged that 'certain political and media actors are trying to mix everything up, to equate everything and thereby confuse people', but insisted he had never been aware of nor tolerated any illegal practice.
I never knew of any of these practices and would not have tolerated them.
An ex-minister sentenced and a wife grounded
Two days earlier, on Monday, a court handed José Luis Ábalos, formerly transport minister and a key figure in Sánchez's ascent, a 24-year prison term. Prosecutors established that during the Covid-19 pandemic Abalos took monthly pay supplements, family holidays and favours for his mistresses in exchange for mask-supply contracts. On Friday, a judge banned Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, from leaving Spain as part of an influence-peddling investigation, citing a flight risk. On Wednesday afternoon she was required to surrender her passport and must now report to authorities twice a month.
The restrictions imposed on my wife exceed any reasonable limit.
Others caught in the net
Sánchez's brother is also awaiting trial for influence peddling, and his political mentor, former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has been indicted over a state rescue loan of €53 million granted to the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic. Sánchez described the loan as 'lawful' and legitimate.
- Judge bans Begoña Gómez from leaving Spain, citing flight risk
- Former minister José Luis Ábalos sentenced to 24 years for corruption
- Pedro Sánchez addresses parliament, denies widespread corruption
- Begoña Gómez surrenders passport to court
'Do you feel no bit of shame?'
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the conservative People's Party again urged Sánchez to call early elections, a call echoed by Santiago Abascal of the far-right Vox.
Do you feel no bit of shame?
Sánchez reiterated he would govern until the end of the legislative term next year. 'The question is not whether we must continue, but rather how not to continue,' he said. 'We are not perfect, we are not infallible.'
