Spanish Socialist Workers’ MP resigns after judge finds ‘firm evidence’ of possible involvement in kickbacks
The swirl of corruption allegations surrounding the centre-left government of Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has intensified dramatically after a senior member of his Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE) resigned hours after a judge found “firm evidence” of his possible involvement in taking kickbacks on public construction contracts.
Sánchez – who became prime minister in 2018 after using a motion of no confidence to turf the corruption-mired conservative People’s party (PP) from office – is already contending with a series of graft probes relating to his wife, his brother, his former transport minister, and one of that minister’s aides. All deny any wrongdoing. A former PSOE member was also recently implicated in an alleged smear campaign against the Guardia Civil police unit investigating the corruption allegations.
But the pressure on his administration increased further on Wednesday when reports emerged that the Guardia Civil had a recording of Santos Cerdán León, a PSOE MP and the party’s organisational secretary, discussing taking kickbacks on public contracts with the former transport minister, José Luis Ábalos, and one of the minister’s aides, Koldo García.
