Government · Madrid
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.
AI text based on reports by Le Monde.fr, Mediapart, 20minutes and other publishers. Published . How it is made
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In brief
Pedro Sánchez appeared before the Spanish parliament on 24 June to deny any 'widespread corruption' in his government and party.
José Luis Ábalos, Sánchez's ex-transport minister, was sentenced on Monday for taking kickbacks on mask contracts during the pandemic.
Begoña Gómez is under investigation for influence peddling; a judge cited flight risk and ordered her to surrender her passport.
Sánchez's brother awaits trial for influence peddling; former PM Zapatero has been indicted over a €53 million airline bailout.
PP leader Feijóo and Vox leader Abascal called on Sánchez to step down or call elections; Sánchez refused.
- 20 JunJudge bans Begoña Gómez from leaving Spain, citing flight risk
- 22 JunFormer minister José Luis Ábalos sentenced to 24 years for corruption
- 24 JunPedro Sánchez addresses parliament, denies widespread corruption
- 24 JunBegoña Gómez surrenders passport to court
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.
'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.'
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Sources and context
- Le Monde.frVIDEO Pedro Sanchez dément des accusations de corruption sous les rires de l'opposition
- MediapartEspagne : Pedro Sánchez se défend d'affaires qui divisent
- 20minutesC'est quoi toutes ces affaires de corruption qui secouent l'Espagne ?
- L'OpinionLe Premier ministre Pedro Sánchez fragilisé par les affaires qui visent son entourage
- Pedro Sánchez
- Spanish Prime Minister defending his government against corruption allegations
- José Luis Ábalos
- Former Spanish Minister of Transport sentenced to 24 years for corruption
- Begoña Gómez
- Wife of Pedro Sánchez, under investigation for influence peddling
- José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
- Former Prime Minister of Spain, indicted for influence peddling in an airline bailout
- Alberto Núñez Feijóo
- Leader of the conservative People's Party, calling for early elections
- Santiago Abascal
- Leader of the far-right Vox party, demanding Sánchez's resignation
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