Spain Pedro Sánchez asks Spaniards for forgiveness over corruption
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has asked the country's citizens for forgiveness following new allegations of corruption. "I ask the citizens for forgiveness", a visibly affected Sánchez told journalists in Madrid. The new revelations filled him with "great indignation and deep sadness", he admitted. The 53-year-old announced an external audit of the finances of his Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and also a restructuring of the party executive.
12.06.2025, 19:33
12.06.2025, 19:34
SDA
Just under two hours earlier, the party's number three, Santos Cerdán, had resigned from the post of organizational secretary due to his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal. Cerdán also announced that he would be giving up his seat as a member of parliament. According to a report by the UCO police unit responsible for corruption offenses, he allegedly received bribes when public contracts were awarded. However, the 56-year-old maintained his innocence.
Various corruption scandals have been plaguing the left-wing minority government in Spain for some time now. Former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, Sánchez's wife Begoña and the head of government's brother, David Sánchez, are among those under investigation.
Opposition calls government a "mafia" - but also has problems
The new revelations are grist to the mill of the opposition, which denounces nepotism and corruption in the PSOE and Sánchez's family. It was only on Sunday that opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo from the conservative Partido Popular (PP) called for new elections at a protest rally against the government attended by tens of thousands of people in Madrid. The demonstration took place under the slogan "Mafia or democracy". However, the PP is also burdened by several corruption scandals.
Sánchez ruled out the possibility of an early general election. The next vote will take place as planned in 2027. There is also no government crisis. "This is not about one person or another. We are here to defend a renewed project for democratic life and social progress, and that goes beyond the letters PSOE - especially in such a difficult time as Spain is currently experiencing."
Meanwhile, the leader of the right-wing populist party Vox, Santiago Abascal, called on Feijóo to table a vote of no confidence in the minority government of the socialist party, which has been in power for a good seven years. However, media observers continue to rule out this possibility. Sánchez still enjoys sufficient support among the remaining parties in parliament, they say.
