A Spanish court on Thursday ordered David Sánchez, the brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial for alleged crimes of misuse of public funds and influence peddling, escalating the legal scrutiny surrounding the socialist (PSOE) leader’s relatives and associates.
The court in Badajoz (Extremadura) determined that Sánchez must face trial over alleged misconduct during his tenure as the region’s head of performing arts, including alleged irregularities in the creation of a governmental job for him.
He resigned earlier this year as a regional music director after he was placed under investigation for suspected crimes in connection with the job. ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s brother David Sánchez quits state role after judge suggests it was ‘created for him’.
The case stems from a complaint filed in November by ‘Manos Limpias’ (Clean Hands), an organisation with ties to the far right, which triggered the investigation into the prime minister’s younger sibling.
The complaint alleges that David Sánchez received a public salary without fulfilling his workplace obligations. It also raised concerns about the process by which he was appointed to the position in 2017 by the socialist administration of Badajoz province.
In an order before the opening of the trial, a judge rejected Sánchez’s appeal against his prosecution and said that he did not carry out the work for which he was appointed.
The judge concluded that the process by which he obtained the post as head of the provincial government’s performing arts office was not the result of ‘a fair and transparent selection process’ and was done ‘without complying with the constitutional requirements’.
It also accused him of having ‘used influence … to obtain his own benefit, in the first place, by getting the conditions of his post adapted to his personal preferences, such as not having to go to an office every day’.
Despite regional prosecutors recommending the case be dismissed, the court opted to proceed. A trial date has not yet been announced, but the case includes 10 additional individuals who are also expected to face trial.
This development adds to the legal challenges facing the government, which have provided ammunition for the right-wing and far-right opposition parties.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the leading opposition party, the People’s Party (PP), criticised what it called ‘the moral and institutional decay of this government’ and demanded snap elections.
‘Spaniards do not deserve such an unworthy government,’ said PP secretary general Cuca Gamarra.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, remains under investigation for over a year in a separate case involving alleged corruption and influence peddling during her time at Madrid’s Complutense University. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Spain’s justice minister defends conduct of PM’s wife in corruption investigation.
Sánchez, who at one point considered resigning over the controversy, maintains that the allegations are part of a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated by the opposition groups to destabilise his minority coalition government. ALSO READ: Spanish government slams ‘trumped-up’ charge against PM’s brother.
In yet another case, former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, once a close ally of Sánchez, is also being investigated. Expelled from the PSOE, Ábalos stands accused of accepting bribes in connection with contracts for face masks and other related medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as other allegations. He denies the charges. ALSO READ: Former Spanish transport minister ‘given Marbella villa stay for helping airline bailout’.
ALSO READ: Spanish government to take legal action over PM’s leaked WhatsApp messages.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
