Sánchez laments corruption and points out hatred from rivals

In a letter sent to PSOE members and published online , Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez lamented the corruption cases surrounding the party, but also denounced what he considered a “spurt of hatred” from opponents in the PP and Vox. “I know that many of you are living these days with pain, indignation and a mixture of perplexity and sadness. We share this feeling,” the leader of the Spanish government began by writing, stressing that “no party is safe from the infamy of corruption.”

However, Pedro Sánchez emphasised the difference between the PSOE and other political forces in its response to corruption. “What makes the difference is how we react to it. And we will always do so in line with our values, those of a democratic and decent organisation committed to the general interest. We expel those who fail us; others protect us. We make quick and exemplary decisions; others write messages of support. We denounce corrupt practices; others cover them up and protect them,” he stressed.

The case concerns a report by the Guardia Civil presented last week that raised suspicions about José Luis Ábalos, Sánchez's former Minister of Public Works who was already suspected of corruption, and Santos Cerdán, a member of parliament and secretary of the PSOE, who ended up resigning from the latter position last week. Both are believed to be central figures in a scheme in which they are suspected of charging high commissions in exchange for public works contracts, such as the construction of roads or railways.

Reiterating that the executive power based on his Government “does not interfere in investigations that are the responsibility of the judiciary, as was the case for much of the last decade”, Pedro Sánchez once again challenged the opposition parties to move forward with the political instrument at their disposal, the motion of censure , and then announced that this would not happen due to the lack of a political project. The Prime Minister also described the use of the content of that report as “a deliberate attempt by the right to overthrow a legitimate government”.

“Spain has corrupt people, it’s true. But it also has functioning institutions, a demanding citizenry and a reactive government. And, of course, it has a clean Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party,” he continued, assuring “better means” and “adequate tools” to combat corruption. At the same time, he heavily criticized the PP and Vox.

“If the right wing is absent from this debate, as it will certainly be, it is because its priority is something else: to overthrow the government at any cost,” he said, adding: “They are not united by what they want to build, but by what they want to destroy. And because the only thing they are capable of offering is the support of an extreme right-wing force that is incompatible with the progress, rights and freedoms that have cost so much to build in Spain. Unfortunately, the Partido Popular and Vox are moving towards hatred and the legitimization of violence.”

Despite acknowledging that the “disappointment is enormous” due to the legal cases surrounding the PSOE, Pedro Sánchez made it clear that he will not resign or move towards early elections, considering that he is facing “an operation of moral demolition” in relation to his political strength and that this action represents a danger to Spanish democracy.

The Spanish press reported this Tuesday that the meeting scheduled for this Tuesday between Pedro Sánchez and Gabriel Rufián, spokesperson for the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) — one of the political forces that provides parliamentary support to the Government led by the PSOE — has been postponed until Wednesday.

The meeting was scheduled to discuss how the pressure from the legal cases on the PSOE could weigh on its relationship with the ERC, with the Catalan republicans having requested a postponement. The meeting is now expected to take place only after the plenary session of the Spanish congress.

Meanwhile, the Basque Nationalist Party, led by Aitor Esteban, issued a warning to Pedro Sánchez's leadership due to the corruption cases. "Somewhere there is a line. Not everything is good enough to prevent the right from governing," said the president of the Basque political force, who also signed a parliamentary support agreement in 2023 to allow Pedro Sánchez to take office.

Esteban, speaking to Radio Popular de Bilbao, considered the Koldo case to be “very serious” and admitted that the information already known could “just be the beginning of the story”, also stressing that it is “very difficult” for the Government to complete the current legislature, which only ends in 2027.