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PSOE Faces Backlash After Ex-Secretary’s Bribe Allegations

Pedro Sánchez commissioned an external audit to restore confidence after shock among party federations accompanied by opposition demands for tighter accountability.

Overview

  • The Guardia Civil’s UCO report tied former PSOE organization chief Santos Cerdán and adviser Koldo García to alleged commission payments in public-contract awards, leading to Cerdán’s resignation and pledge to give up his parliamentary seat.
  • Pedro Sánchez ordered an independent audit of the PSOE’s accounts to dispel suspicions of illegal financing and signal greater transparency.
  • Numerous regional PSOE federations expressed incredulity and anger, opened internal investigations and pressed for clearer financial disclosures at the national level.
  • Opposition parties from the PP and Vox to Podemos and IU have demanded Sánchez explain the scandal, with some leaders calling for his resignation or early general elections.
  • In Cantabria, the PSOE lodged a complaint with the regional prosecutor over accounting irregularities at Liendo’s town council, underscoring broader governance concerns within the party.