Sánchez marks eight years as Spain's PM amid corruption probes

Pedro Sánchez marks eight years as Spain's prime minister on 1 June, but the Socialist leader is focused on political survival rather than celebration.

His brother David Sánchez went on trial this week on charges of influence peddling. Former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a close ally, faces an investigation into alleged money laundering. Police also raided the party's Madrid headquarters as part of a probe into claims of a dirty tricks campaign.

Opposition parties have called for Sánchez to resign. Centre-left newspaper El País warned that the cases are linked to the party's leadership.

The scrutiny began in 2023 with former transport minister José Luis Ábalos, who was expelled from the party and is now on trial over alleged kickbacks from a €50 million facemask contract during the pandemic. Last year Ábalos and party number three Santos Cerdán were named in a separate kickbacks-for-contracts case. Sánchez said the party should not have trusted Cerdán.

Zapatero is accused of securing a €53 million government bailout for Plus Ultra airline in 2021 in exchange for a commission. He is due to be questioned in court on 17 June and has denied wrongdoing. Sánchez has given him his full support.

The raid on party headquarters stems from allegations that member Leire Díez was paid to discredit police, judges and prosecutors. Díez denies the claim.

Sánchez has not been directly implicated, but his wife Begoña Gómez is under investigation for misuse of funds and influence peddling. She has a preliminary hearing on 9 June. Sánchez has said the cases against his brother and wife originated from far-right groups.

Transport minister Óscar Puente accused opponents of trying to remove the government through undemocratic means. Conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called the scandals a criminal carousel and demanded early elections.

Sánchez has said he will serve out the full term. His minority government has struggled to pass budgets and relies on regional and left-wing parties. The Basque Nationalist Party has questioned whether it can wait until 2027 for the next vote.

Analyst Paco Camas said the summer recess could give the government time to regroup, but further damaging evidence could force partners to withdraw support.