Spanish PM's ex-top aide sentenced to 24 years for graft

MADRID (AFP) — A Spanish court on Monday sentenced Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s former right-hand man to 24 years in jail for graft, a harsh blow to the already fragile Socialist-led government.

The case is one of several investigations into alleged corruption by Sanchez’s family and ex-political allies that have threatened to topple his minority coalition.

Clashes with U.S. President Donald Trump and virulent criticism of Israel have made Sanchez a global progressive star, but the scandals have eroded the domestic standing of one of Europe’s few remaining Socialist leaders.

The Supreme Court found ex-transport minister Jose Luis Abalos — a former Socialist heavyweight who helped propel Sanchez to power in 2018 — guilty of membership of a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and influence peddling.

The court also sentenced Abalos’ former adviser Koldo Garcia to 19 years in jail for the same crimes.

The two men were accused of pocketing kickbacks for handing out public contracts worth millions of euros for sanitary equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors argued in court that both men had abused their government positions and contacts to favor businessman Victor de Aldama, who had already admitted his role in the vast and complex affair.

Aldama, who was also tried in the case, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, but his sentence was suspended because of his cooperation with investigators during the probe.

In its ruling, the court highlighted “the serious deterioration of public trust in the political system caused by corruption, which undermines the democratic architecture of the state.”

‘End of the road’

Abalos was a key architect of Sanchez’s rise to power and served as the Socialist party’s powerful organization secretary before becoming transport minister after Sanchez took office.

His fall has embarrassed a prime minister who took power promising to clean up Spanish politics after ousting a scandal-plagued main conservative Popular Party (PP) in 2018.

Leaked recordings of private conversations between the accused, that frequently mention cash and prostitutes, dealt another blow to a Socialist party which has long championed women’s rights.

During the trial, Aldama alleged that Sanchez was the leader of the criminal network and that the ruling Socialists had benefited from illegal financing derived from the scheme.

Sanchez has repeatedly denied any connection between the accused and the finances of his party and has rejected accusations that he was aware of any wrongdoing.

A canny politician famous for coming out on top in dire situations, he has repeatedly rejected the opposition’s calls to step down and call early elections over the mounting corruption scandals.

PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo repeated his demand for Sanchez to resign on Monday, saying it was “indecent” that he remained in power “one more minute.”

“With what legitimacy can he cling to power? I tell you: none. This is the end of the road,” he said, pointing out that Sanchez has been unable to pass a budget during the current Parliament.

String of cases

Separate corruption investigations into Sanchez’s wife Begona Gomez and his brother David have piled further pressure on the government. The premier has not been named in any of the cases.

A court on Saturday ordered Gomez to stand trial by jury for allegedly exploiting her position as Sanchez’s wife for private gain and banned her from leaving the country.

David Sanchez, a composer and orchestra director, went on trial accused of receiving preferential treatment in obtaining a public-sector job. A verdict is due in that case.

Sanchez’s Socialist mentor and predecessor Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was placed under formal investigation last month for alleged influence peddling in connection with the bailout of an airline.

Sanchez has dismissed the cases against his wife and brother as politically motivated and backed Zapatero’s innocence.

He is due to address Parliament on Wednesday on the various investigations affecting his entourage.

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By DANIEL SILVA Agence France-Presse