Particle.news

Download on the App Store

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.

Image
Le Premier ministre espagnol, Pedro Sánchez, le 12 juin à Madrid.
Image
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.