Spanish Prime Minister Unveils Anti-Corruption Plan Amid Mounting Scandal Pressure

Former senior Socialist Party official Santos Cerdán was arrested in June over corruption allegations.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a parliamentary session in Madrid, on Oct. 21, 2020. Manu Fernandez/AP Photo

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced an anti-corruption plan as he faces pressure over the mounting corruption cases involving his Socialist Party.

Speaking in an extraordinary session of parliament on July 9, Sánchez presented a total of 15 measures to prevent and tackle corruption.

The proposals include tougher criminal penalties, enhanced transparency in public procurement, and the use of artificial intelligence to detect fraud.

The announcement comes in the wake of the arrest of Santos Cerdán, a former senior Socialist Party official and close ally of Sánchez, who has been placed in pre-trial detention over allegations of receiving kickbacks in exchange for public contracts.

The Spanish Supreme Court judge overseeing the case cited “strong evidence” of Cerdán’s involvement and concerns about flight risk and potential tampering with evidence.

“I’m not going to throw in the towel. I’m going to keep going.” Sánchez said on social media platform X on July 9. “Because I am a clean politician, because I aim to regain the trust of the majority of this chamber, and because this political project goes far beyond my person and is still not complete.”

Sánchez, who has led a minority coalition government since 2018, has not been personally accused in the investigation. The court is also investigating allegations against former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and the latter’s aide, Koldo Garcia, that they received kickbacks for awarding public works contracts.

On July 7, the judge overseeing the case, Leopoldo Puente, described Cerdán as the possible ringleader of an alleged scheme involving the improper awarding of public contracts. The case, according to court documents, is based on years of recorded conversations recovered from García’s home.

Cerdán, who resigned last month from his position as the Socialist Party’s third-ranking official and lawmaker, denies the allegations. Both Ábalos and Garcia also maintain their innocence.

Anti-Corruption Reforms

Sánchez said his government will overcome the corruption crisis by introducing a package of reforms.

The proposed anti-corruption reforms include blacklisting companies found guilty of corruption and increasing transparency in political financing. The government also proposed to sanction political parties involved in wrongdoing and toughen penalties for public administration-related crimes.

The state plan will also enhance the roles of independent oversight bodies and implement the use of AI tools to monitor public procurement contracts.

“With 15 measures designed with the support of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, representing the greatest push for the prevention, fight, and repair of corruption ever undertaken in Spain,” Sánchez said on X.

He said that tougher penalties alone are not sufficient, stressing that “the damage caused must be repaired” and that what belongs to the public must be returned to them.

The crisis deepened in recent days with further revelations. Over the weekend, a Socialist Party official who was promoted in the recent party reshuffle resigned amid unrelated allegations of sexual misconduct.

Separate investigations have targeted Sánchez’s former attorney general, his brother, and his wife, Begoña Gómez—all of whom deny any wrongdoing.

Political Reactions

Sánchez defended his party’s actions, saying the Socialists acted decisively in asking for Cerdán’s resignation. However, the scandal has prompted renewed calls from the opposition for Sánchez to resign.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s Party, urged Sánchez to call snap elections.

“The best thing for you is to confess everything you know, help return the loot, and call for elections,” Feijóo said on X.

Last month, Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, leader of the junior coalition partner Sumar, called for a government “reset.”

“This legislature needs an authentic reset,” Díaz told reporters. “We will demand right now a meeting of the government coalition ... the only possible way out is a U-turn to take the legislature towards social policies.”

Sánchez said he faces the challenge with determination and humility.

“Moving forward. Always forward,” he said on X.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.