The Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez is faltering due to a corruption scandal. A confidant of Sánchez stepped down this week after a court wanted to question him under oath in a corruption case. The opposition is calling for early elections.
The investigation revolves around the resigned Santos Cerdán. Police investigation shows that the prominent member of Sánchez’s socialist party PSOE was presumably involved in distributing hundreds of thousands of euros in bribes.
Cerdán allegedly helped construction companies with government contracts. He allegedly received help from former Minister of Transport José Luís Abalos. Cerdán refused to testify in the case and announced his resignation. Opponents see this as proof that he is guilty.
“I was certain of his integrity until today,” a visibly somber Sánchez said on Friday. “But now I have learned of his involvement. We should not have trusted him. I apologize to the people.”
The situation is extra painful for Sánchez because he came to power after a similar corruption scandal within the previous government. Sánchez has been Prime Minister of Spain since 2018 and took over from former Partido Popular leader Mariano Rajoy. A large corruption scandal then showed that those involved in the PP were being paid in exchange for awarding government contracts. Long prison sentences were handed out in that case.