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Supreme Court Jails Spain’s José Luis Ábalos Without Bail Ahead of Corruption Trial

The ruling suspends his parliamentary vote, increasing Sánchez’s reliance on Junts.

Overview

  • The Supreme Court deemed the former transport minister a flight risk and ordered pretrial detention without bond.
  • He is the first sitting member of Spain’s parliament to be imprisoned in the country’s modern democratic era.
  • Prosecutors are seeking a 24-year sentence on charges including bribery, influence-peddling, embezzlement and rigging Covid-era public contracts.
  • His incarceration automatically suspends his rights while he retains his seat, tightening a finely balanced chamber where Junts now holds decisive leverage.
  • The court also remanded ex-adviser Koldo García without bail, as investigators point to Guardia Civil recordings and related probes that are increasing pressure on Sánchez.