A Spanish court announced on Wednesday that the start of the politically charged trial involving alleged influence peddling and administrative misconduct by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s brother has been pushed back from February to May 2026.
The proceedings against David Sánchez are among several judicial cases currently troubling the socialist (PSOE) leader’s fragile left-leaning coalition. These controversies have energised the right-wing opposition, which continues to call for his resignation and the scheduling of early elections.
David Sánchez – a composer and orchestra conductor – is accused of having relied on his older brother’s political standing to secure a 2017 post overseeing performing arts for the provincial administration of Badajoz in the region of Extremadura.
Prosecutors allege that the role was effectively created for him and that he sidestepped normal public recruitment procedures while the province was under socialist control at the time.
Although he stepped down from the job in February, David Sánchez has maintained that he did nothing improper. ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s brother David Sánchez quits state role after judge suggests it was ‘created for him’.
According to the Badajoz court, the originally scheduled hearing dates of 9-14 February have been rescheduled to 28-29 May and 1-4 June to fit the availability of the various legal teams. ALSO READ: Spanish government slams ‘trumped-up’ charge against PM’s brother.
The government is also contending with separate corruption probes involving the prime minister’s wife as well as two prominent former socialist officials who once served as close advisers to Sánchez, further heightening political pressure. ALSO READ: Wife of Spanish PM takes option to skip formal hearing of trial notification.
Pedro Sánchez has repeatedly rejected the accusations targeting his wife and dismissed claims of illicit socialist party financing, criticising the right-wing opposition for what he describes as a coordinated ‘smear campaign’. ALSO READ: Spanish PM denies corruption in rowdy senate hearing, calling it a ‘circus’ and ‘witch hunt’.
Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.