Paul Kirby
European Digital Editor
Oscar del Pozo/AFP
Downbeat Pedro Sanchez asked for forgiveness of the Spanish people
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez apologized to the Spaniards after an escalating corruption scandal defeated a senior socialist colleague.
Sanchez, who has led Spain since 2018, said there was nothing like “zero corruption” and he tried to distance himself from the incident and rule out early elections.
Alberto Nuñez Fejo, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said it was time for Sanchez to resign. “Survival is no longer an option.”
Sanchez of Downbeat admitted that it was wrong to trust his Socialist Party secretary, Santos Serdan, and spoke about his deep disappointment.
Seldan was asked to testify in court after suggesting that the judge may have acted with former party officials by improperly awarding a public contract in exchange for kickbacks.
He said Thursday he resigned to protect himself in the Supreme Court on June 25th, claiming that he had “never committed a crime and never conspired.”
Despite his seven years of power, Sanchez led a coalition of volatile minorities secured after the conservative popular party won the 2023 election, but failed to form a government.
Amid growing speculation about his own future, he called for a press conference to set out from the creeping scandal.
In a statement that continues with media questions, he said he knew absolutely nothing about the corruption case and instead committed to restructuring his socialist PSOE party leadership.
“This isn’t about me, it’s not about the Socialist Party,” he said.
His government has maintained its “political projects” and argued that new elections will not take place until 2027.
However, Sanchez may face pressure from within his alliance after Sumar’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz, a partner in the left-wing coalition, said she also wanted an explanation.
The popular opposition party, supported by weekend rally in the heart of Madrid, attracting tens of thousands of supporters, is calling for Sanchez to go under the slogan “Mafia or Democracy.”
Party leader Alberto Nuñez Feijuo appealed to other coalition parties to abandon the prime minister. He told reporters Thursday. “Corruption is already a hallmark of this government and it must be over,” he said.
Reuters
Alberto Nuñez Feijuo said it was early election time and the prime minister had to go
About an hour ago, Sanchez first appeared in media questions since the national blackout that hit Spain in April.
Speaking from the national headquarters of Madrid’s Socialist Party (PSOE), the prime minister said he wanted to persuade Santos Serdan of the integrity until Thursday morning and apologize to the Spanish citizens.
“There’s no such thing as zero corruption, but there must be zero tolerance when it happens,” said Sánchez, executive director of the PSOE. “We shouldn’t have trusted him.”
Sanchez has denounced the opposition to running a smear campaign. Like many others, he sought forgiveness from the Spanish people, saying he had his own mistakes.
He went on to accuse conservatives of besieging the government with numerous issues, tracking his appearance in social media messages and vowing to continue working for what he has always stood for “clean politics and democratic renewal.”
Sanchez faced repeated political crises and threatened to stand up to April 2024.
It took him five days to decide on his future when the court decided to open a preliminary lawsuit against his wife over allegations surrounding her business deal.
He then called for a TV press conference and announced at a moment in high-drama that he had decided to stay at work.
However, Serdan’s resignation represents a moment of political danger for the Prime Minister.
Although he has not personally been involved in the allegations of corruption, one of his closest political allies is along with two other officials.
Supreme Court Justice Leopold Puente acted after a lengthy report from the Spanish Civil Security Force Central Operations Force concluded that Socialist Party organizer Serdan had full knowledge of the payments made on the alleged kickback scandal.
The judge said the report revealed that Celdan had suggested that he had acted in a conspiracy with former Sanchez-era Minister of Transport Jose Luis Aros and former minister of minister Cordo Garcia.
Arros lost his job during the 2021 re-shuffle and was then forced to resign from the Socialist Party in 2024. He remains an independent lawmaker.
The police report is based on many recordings made by Koldo García over four years, and estimates that the payment is worth 620,000 euros (£530,000).
Several recordings of transcripts appeared in Spanish media on Thursday, claiming that Cerdán and Koldo García discussed the substantial amount of payments.
Koldo García and José Luisábalos are also called to testify by judges. The former minister denies that he did something wrong.
