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Santos Cerdán Steps Down in COVID-19 Contracts Scandal, Intensifying Pressure on Sánchez

Pedro Sánchez denied any prior knowledge of the bribery allegations, offering an apology to the Spanish people.

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Le Premier ministre espagnol, Pedro Sánchez, le 12 juin à Madrid.
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Le Premier ministre espagnol Pedro Sanchez répond aux questions des journalistes lors d'une conférence de presse au siège du PSOE, le 12 juin 2025 à Madrid

Overview

  • Santos Cerdán stepped down on June 12 as the PSOE’s organizational secretary after being implicated in a scandal over alleged bribes for public contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A Supreme Court judge cited a police report indicating that Cerdán was “complicit” with former minister José Luis Ábalos and aide Koldo García Izaguirre in securing contracts in exchange for illicit payments.
  • Pedro Sánchez asserted he was unaware of the allegations, apologized to the Spanish people and vowed not to call early general elections.
  • Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused Sánchez’s government of operating a “mafia plot” and is pressing for an early vote ahead of the scheduled 2027 polls.
  • Investigations have also targeted Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling and his brother, David Sánchez, faces charges related to influence trafficking.