Spain: Pedro Sánchez dismisses allegations of judicial interference

Friday 05 June 2026 - 15:00

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday stated that he had “never been aware” of a cell within the Socialist Party (PSOE) allegedly aimed at interfering in investigations targeting his close associates or the political formation, nor had he “given his approval” to such an initiative.

“I never gave my approval, I never had information (and) I never had knowledge of anything, which I would never have tolerated,” he affirmed on the sidelines of a summit in Montenegro between the European Union and the Balkan countries.

The “Leire Díez affair,” named after the former socialist activist at the heart of the case, has been making headlines in Spain for several days and has increased pressure on the government of Pedro Sánchez.

This judicial case has taken on new proportions since the search of the PSOE headquarters on May 27 and the revelation of the initial elements of the investigation, which has been ongoing for several months and was consulted by AFP.

For investigators, a structured organization was set up around Leire Díez and Santos Cerdán, the former No. 3 of the PSOE, to “systematically and continuously destabilize any judicial proceeding or police intervention likely to have a direct or indirect impact on the interests of the PSOE or the government.”

Sánchez’s remarks come as the opposition has called for explanations and demanded his appearance before Parliament. The Prime Minister, however, dismissed the accusations as an attempt to destabilize his government, accusing his political opponents of exploiting the judicial system for partisan purposes.

He reiterated his confidence in the Spanish judiciary while firmly denying any involvement of his party or his government in the alleged scheme. “The rule of law in Spain is solid, and I have full confidence in our judges and courts to shed light on this matter,” he added.

The case has reignited political tensions in Spain, with the conservative Popular Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party calling for Sánchez’s resignation. The government, meanwhile, maintains that the allegations are baseless and part of a smear campaign orchestrated by its political adversaries.

As the investigation continues, the “Leire Díez affair” is likely to remain a central issue in Spanish politics in the coming weeks, testing the resilience of Sánchez’s coalition government.