Spanish Parliament erupts over Socialist party’s corruption case

 

Spanish Parliament erupts over Socialist party’s corruption case

 

Sánchez restated that immediate and harsh measures “had been already taken” against his close-allies accused of embezzlement of public funds.

“We cannot be like the, the left should not tolerate corruption,” Rufián added, to which Sánchez angrily answered that his political camp was "not corrupt".

 

Inés Fernández-Pontes Euractiv Jun 19, 2025 09:29 3 min. read News

https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/spanish-parliament-erupts-over-socialist-partys-corruption-case/

 

A massive brawl took place in Spanish Parliament on Wednesday as mutual accusations and attacks between Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sánchez's party, his coalition partners and the main opposition parties dominated the session.

 

Spain’s fragile coalition government shattered over the bombshell Guardia Civil report published last week that shed light on an alleged corruption scheme linking Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) to a “mafia-style” operations involving close allies and former cabinet members.

 

Santos Cerdán, a close ally of Sánchez and the Spanish Socialist party's (PSOE) number three, stepped down following accusations of embezzling public funds – a scandal now drawing scrutiny to the prime minister himself as anti-corruption investigations close in on his inner circle.

 

Centre-right Popular Party’s deputies banged their seats in shouting “resignation, resignation!” while far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal theatrically exited the hemicycle refusing to listen to Sánchez's speech.

 

"Spaniards need to be saved from you and in fact they are waiting for your resignation letter,” Popular Party’s leader Alberto Nuñez Feijóo said.

 

Sánchez reaffirmed his party’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and restated that immediate and harsh measures “had been already taken” against his close-allies accused of embezzlement of public funds.

 

Unhappy socios

As the opposition harshened the tone against the Socialist leader, minor-coalition partners joined the PP’s attack and demanded explanations for the numerous corruption scandals that beset the Socialist-led administration.

 

In a move to “condemn” PSOE’s corruption, three MPs from left-wing coalition partner Sumar did not attend the session, including its leader, Vice-President and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz.

 

As for the Catalan separatist parties that support Sánchez's government, ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián said that he does not want "a PSOE plot like the Gürtel scandal'", referring to the corruption case involving the Popular Party’s treasurer Luis Bárcenas, that shook Spanish politics during the previous government of Mariano Rajoy.

 

“We cannot be like the, the left should not tolerate corruption,” Rufián added, to which Sánchez angrily answered that his political camp was "not corrupt".

 

In the Basque front, conservative PNV asked for caution whilst left-wing separatist Bildu called for “far-reaching measures against corruption”, but neither joined the brawl.

 

Following the tense parliamentary session early in the morning, Sánchez met ERC, Bildu, PNV leaders in separate meetings to secure their parliamentary support until the 2027 elections in exchange for alleged future political concessions.

 

(cs, vc)