Sánchez faces Congress amid mounting pressure over corruption allegations

Sunday 15 June 2025 - 13:36

By: Zahouani Ilham

Sánchez faces Congress amid mounting pressure over corruption allegations

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will appear before Congress following revelations about alleged corruption involving his close ally, Santos Cerdán. This follows the release of a damning report by the Civil Guard’s UCO unit and Sánchez’s limited response at a recent press conference.

Sánchez was originally scheduled to attend a UN conference in New York next week, but that event has been canceled. His attendance in Congress is being framed by the Socialist Party as a gesture of accountability. However, not only the opposition but also some of his fragile coalition partners such as ERC and BNG have demanded he give more detailed explanations in Parliament.

After the scandal erupted described as the most serious crisis of his premiership Sánchez retreated to the Quintos de Mora estate to consult with his inner circle. Sources close to him claim he has ruled out both early elections and a confidence vote, despite growing political pressure.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Popular Party (PP) has sharply criticized Sánchez. Speaking at a rally in Málaga, Feijóo accused the Prime Minister of evading democratic accountability and demanded he appear in Congress to explain the alleged corruption in his administration. Feijóo went as far as calling Sánchez’s previous apologies "an insult to Spaniards," insisting that transparency, restitution, and resignation are necessary.

Feijóo argued that this situation is unprecedented in modern Spanish politics and directly implicates the Prime Minister. He accused Sánchez of presiding over a government stained by “seven years of lies and corruption,” and warned coalition partners that continued support would make them accomplices, not just allies.

Declaring that “the PSOE has no escape,” Feijóo accused the government of trying to avoid democratic scrutiny. He asserted that all members of the administration bear collective responsibility and called for an end to what he described as institutional decay.

The PP leader emphasized that no one in his own ranks has been involved in corruption, reinforcing the contrast between his party and Sánchez’s. He concluded with a stark message: “Anyone who steals has no place in the PP.”

Feijóo described the current administration as a source of disgrace, claiming it insults public intelligence and calls for its complete removal before any meaningful reform can begin. He urged supporters not to settle for symbolic gestures, but to pursue Sánchez’s removal decisively.

Lastly, Feijóo alleged that the PSOE's corruption started with the 2014 primaries and has continued ever since, accusing them of covering up serious crimes under the guise of political persecution. He labeled Sánchez’s leadership and party as a "mafia," concluding that only by calling it what it is can it be confronted.