Key facts
- Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appeared before Congress to address corruption allegations.
- Sánchez stated he had no knowledge of and would not tolerate corrupt practices.
- He affirmed the government's respect for and compliance with judicial rulings.
- The Prime Minister defended his partner, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez.
- Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo blamed Sánchez for the scandals.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appeared before the Congress of Deputies to address a series of corruption cases that have engulfed his government, party, and family. Sánchez asserted that he never knew of, nor would he have tolerated, any of these practices. He acknowledged the gravity of the judicial news but suggested political actors were attempting to conflate issues to mislead the public.
Sánchez reviewed the timeline of the Koldo case, following recent Supreme Court rulings against José Luis Ábalos, Víctor de Aldama, and Koldo García. He emphasized that the government respects and will comply with these rulings, stating there must be no impunity for corruption. He also clarified that the PSOE party has not been irregularly financed, attributing such issues to others exploiting its resources.
Regarding the airline Plus Ultra, Sánchez unequivocally stated there was no preferential treatment. He also defended former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, noting his government had no corruption cases. Sánchez acknowledged the personal difficulty in discussing cases involving his partner, Begoña Gómez, and his brother, David Sánchez, asserting they were built on unfounded accusations and harassment.
Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the People's Party accused Sánchez of being the epicenter of the scandals, calling it a "corrupting political nexus." Feijóo sarcastically questioned Sánchez's rhetorical query of "how can we not carry on," implying it referred to committing crimes. He highlighted Ábalos's sentencing and stated Sánchez bore all political responsibility.