MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was re-elected this weekend as secretary general of his Socialist Party despite corruption investigations in his inner circle.
Sánchez, one of Europe’s longest-serving leaders, has shown deft negotiating skills to stay in power since 2018, when he led Spain’s only successful no-confidence vote against his conservative predecessor. Last year he defied the polls to win re-election by stitching together a fragile coalition and earning another term until 2027.
But the 52-year-old Sánchez, known abroad for his dashing looks and fluent English language, is being rocked by a series of lawsuits – all still in the investigative phase – targeting a former member of his cabinet and his wife and , most recently, his brother.
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Here’s a look at the legal attack that Sánchez and his party say is baseless and part of a right-wing “smear campaign.”
His wife is being investigated for influence peddling
Sánchez stunned Spain last April when he said he was taking five days off his public calendar to consider his political future after his wife, Begoña Gómez, was placed under investigation by a Spanish judge.
Ultimately, he announced that he would remain in power and make an effort to tackle what he called fake news that is “clouding” Spanish politics.
The judge is investigating allegations of influence peddling and corruption by Gómez. The accusations were made by Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), a small group whose leader has ties to the far right. The group calls itself a union and has often tried to sue elected officials, even the sister of Spain’s current king.
The Socialist Party took issue with the fact that the accusations were based on articles published by media outlets, mainly websites, with a right-wing slant.
Sánchez refused to answer questions when summoned by the judge, citing his prerogative as prime minister.
Gómez has also been hauled before a committee led by regional lawmakers in the Madrid region, who say they are investigating her role as director of a master’s program at a public university. She denies any wrongdoing.
His brother is the target of a separate investigation
The prime minister’s brother, David Sánchez, is also under investigation. In that case too, Manos Limpias was behind the accusations of alleged influence peddling.
Last week, a judge announced she is investigating how David Sánchez was appointed to his post at the Ministry of Culture of the provincial government of Badajoz in southwestern Spain. David Sánchez denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer.
Government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría said last week that while the government respects the separation of powers and judicial processes, it has found “suspicious similarities” between the cases involving the prime minister’s wife and brother.
“We are at ease because we know there is nothing wrong with these cases,” she said.
A former minister tainted by an alleged kickback scheme
Another case that has been going on for several months revolves around an alleged corruption ring of businessmen and government officials suspected of receiving kickbacks for contracts to purchase medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The scandal led the Socialist Party to expel a former transport minister, Luis Ábalos, who had been a close confidant of Sánchez until he reshuffled his cabinet in 2021 before the scandal broke. Ábalos denies any wrongdoing and has retained his seat in parliament, now as an independent MP.
The Socialists struck because of their handling of a case against a rival party
A tax evasion case against the partner of a fierce political rival of Sánchez, the conservative leader of the powerful Madrid region, has also ultimately backfired politically for the Socialists.
The businessman friend of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a fierce Popular Party politician in charge of the central Madrid region, is under investigation for failing to pay his fair share of taxes.
But he hit back, accusing prosecutors of violating his right to privacy by leaking confidential financial and personal information. A court heard the complaint and targeted Spain’s top prosecutor, who was placed in his position by Sánchez’s government. The top prosecutor has defended his actions.
Things got worse for the Socialists last week when their top politician in the Madrid region resigned after being implicated in the possible disclosure of personal information.
Yet Sánchez still has political cover
Still, Sánchez appears – at least for now – to have the political cover he needs to remain in charge.
He retains the support of several regional parties that have maintained his coalition between his Socialists and the further left Sumar Party.
Also helping his longevity is the fact that the only alternative to his leadership is a right-wing coalition between the Popular Party and the far-right Vox party, a prospect anathema to some regional parties whose support was key to the Sánchez’s victory last year. .
At his Socialist Party meeting, Sánchez urged optimism and hit back at his opponents: “Let the right be the ones with regret and the ash-gray pessimism.”
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Wilson reported from Barcelona.
