Spain’s Supreme Court has sentenced former transport minister José Luis Ábalos (main image), once one of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s closest political allies, to 24 years in prison for his role in a corruption scheme involving public contracts awarded during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, marks the first major verdict in a series of corruption cases linked to figures associated with Spain’s ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) and represents a significant political setback for Sánchez, who came to power in 2018 after ousting a corruption-tainted right-wing administration on a promise to clean up public life.
Ábalos was convicted of membership of a criminal organisation, corruption, embezzlement of public funds and influence peddling. His former adviser, Koldo García, received a 19-year prison sentence after being found guilty of the same offences.
Prosecutors argued that the pair used their government positions and political connections to steer lucrative public contracts for sanitary equipment during the Coronavirus pandemic in exchange for kickbacks. At the centre of the case was businessman Víctor de Aldama, who had already admitted his role in the extensive corruption network. Aldama received a suspended sentence of four and a half years. ALSO READ: Businessman seeks to implicate Sánchez in corruption trial as PSOE vow legal action over ‘slander’.
According to the Supreme Court, evidence showed irregularities in the awarding of a contract for 13 million face masks to a company linked to Aldama. Investigators also uncovered monthly payments of €10,000 to Ábalos for what were described as ‘fixed expenses’, as well as the hiring of two of his associates in public companies, with housing costs covered for one of them.
The court said the unusually lengthy sentence reflected both the number of offences committed and the damage caused to public confidence by a senior government minister abusing his office.
‘A society that perceives that those in positions of power act guided by private interests, or interests unrelated to public service … experiences a loss of institutional legitimacy, which compromises the stability of the system itself,’ the verdict read.
Despite the 24-year sentence, the court noted that under Spanish law Ábalos is expected to serve a maximum of around 16 and a half years in prison.
The downfall of Ábalos, who was once regarded as Sánchez’s political right-hand man, has proved particularly embarrassing for the government. ALSO READ: PSOE suspend ex-minister Ábalos, who will now serve as an independent MP.
The scandal has been further amplified by leaked recordings of conversations involving those accused, in which cash payments and prostitutes were allegedly discussed, creating additional difficulties for the PSOE that has long championed women’s rights and gender equality. ALSO READ: Sánchez battles to control PSOE crisis, as claims of sexual harassment force a new resignation.
The verdict comes amid a growing number of corruption investigations involving people close to the prime minister. Separate cases are currently examining the activities of Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, his brother David Sánchez, and former socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
On Saturday, a court ordered Gómez to stand trial before a jury on corruption allegations and barred her from leaving Spain. She has been accused of exploiting her position as the prime minister’s wife for private gain. ALSO READ: Spanish PM’s wife ordered to stand trial on corruption charges and surrender passport.
David Sánchez, a composer and orchestra director, is meanwhile accused of receiving preferential treatment in obtaining a public-sector position. A verdict in that case is still pending. ALSO READ: Trial of Spanish PM’s brother concludes amid wider corruption scrutiny.
To date, none of the investigations has implicated Pedro Sánchez himself. The PSOE leader has repeatedly rejected opposition demands that he resign or call an early general election, insisting he will remain in office until the end of the current parliamentary term in August 2027. ALSO READ: Pedro Sánchez vows not to quit, and presents 15-point anti-corruption plan.
Nevertheless, Monday’s ruling prompted renewed calls from the opposition for Sánchez to step aside.
‘The prime minister of the government is responsible for the actions of his ministers,’ Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the right-wing People’s Party (PP) said in a statement from the party’s Madrid headquarters.
Sánchez, known for surviving a series of political crises during his time in office, is due to address parliament on Wednesday regarding the various judicial investigations affecting members of his political circle as pressure on his minority socialist-led coalition government continues to intensify.
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El Tribunal Supremo asegura que Víctor de Aldama, al que ha suspendido la condena en el caso mascarillas, proporcionó información “veraz y relevante” y “medios de prueba” a la investigación del caso Koldo.https://t.co/50klKc8cRL pic.twitter.com/3458KM5map
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) June 22, 2026
VIDEO | El Supremo condena a 24 años de cárcel al exministro de Transportes y exdirigente socialista José Luis Ábalos; a 19 años a su exasesor Koldo García y a más de 4 años al comisionista Víctor de Aldama por mordidas en contratos de mascarillas en plena pandemia. pic.twitter.com/boyXjnB3zo
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) June 22, 2026
El Tribunal considera probado por unanimidad que Ábalos y Koldo cobraron comisiones por adjudicar contratos de mascarillas a empresas de Aldama y favorecer contrataciones a dos conocidas de Ábalos en empresas públicas.
— Telediarios de TVE (@telediario_tve) June 22, 2026
Los detalles, con Aitor Lourido pic.twitter.com/b1MHPmAOCW
Moncloa ve “desproporción” entre la condena a Koldo y Ábalos y la suspensión de pena a Aldama
— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) June 22, 2026
Sigue el minuto a minuto: https://t.co/hzenM6EaqU https://t.co/PsTHI3Dv6v
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