Eight years after taking power, Spain’s prime minister faces mounting pressure as corruption probes close in on allies, relatives and party figures
Pedro Sánchez marks eight years as Spain’s prime minister on June 1, but the milestone comes under the shadow of the gravest political crisis of his time in office.
Although Sánchez has not been directly implicated in any investigation, a widening series of corruption and influence-peddling probes involving relatives, former allies and senior Socialist figures has intensified calls for his resignation and raised fresh questions about the survival of his minority government.
The pressure has grown rapidly. Sánchez’s brother, David Sánchez, has gone on trial accused of influence peddling over a public-sector music post in Badajoz. His wife, Begoña Gómez, is under judicial investigation over alleged misuse of funds and influence peddling, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 9. Both cases originated from complaints filed by far-right groups, a point the prime minister has repeatedly emphasized while criticizing the proceedings.
The Socialist Party is also under heavy scrutiny. Former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, once a close Sánchez ally, was expelled from the party after being implicated in a pandemic-era facemask contracts case. He has denied wrongdoing. Ábalos and former Socialist Party organization secretary Santos Cerdán have also been linked to a broader kickbacks-for-contracts investigation, which Cerdán likewise denies.
The crisis deepened further with the investigation of former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, accused of using his influence to help secure a €53 million government bailout for Plus Ultra airline in 2021 and allegedly receiving a commission. Zapatero, a revered figure on the Spanish left, denies any illegality and retains Sánchez’s public support.
Adding to the turmoil, police recently raided Socialist Party headquarters in Madrid as part of a probe into allegations that party-linked figures attempted to discredit police, judges and prosecutors investigating corruption cases. The opposition has branded the affair “the Socialists’ Watergate.”
Conservative People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has called the scandals a “criminal carousel” and urged Sánchez to resign and call early elections. Sánchez, however, insists he will complete the legislature.
His survival may depend on fragile parliamentary allies, including regional nationalist parties wary of enabling a right-wing government backed by Vox. Analysts say Sánchez can still dig in, but warn that further revelations — especially any evidence of illegal party financing — could make the pressure impossible to withstand.
For now, Spain’s great political survivor is refusing to retreat. But the scandals circling his government are tightening fast.
