José Luis Ábalos, once a minister in the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been convicted of bribery. The decision intensifies a crisis for Mr. Sánchez’ circle.
Spain’s highest court has sentenced a former top official of the country’s governing Socialist Party to 24 years in prison for bribery and other acts of corruption. This verdict places more pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as investigations continue around his former allies and family.
José Luis Ábalos, who was a significant figure in Mr. Sánchez’ Socialist Party and served as the infrastructure minister, was found guilty of criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, and influence peddling. He had control of billions of euros of the Spanish budget. His top lieutenant, Koldo García, a former bouncer, was also convicted on corruption charges, including accepting bribes for the minister. García received a 19-year sentence. Both pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers did not immediately comment.
The conviction is a major setback for Mr. Sánchez, a left-leaning leader known for confronting President Trump and the far right. However, he faces domestic challenges, with associates and family members accused of corruption.
A decade ago, Mr. Sánchez led a primary campaign that saw him rise to the pinnacle of the Spanish government. He traveled across Spain with Mr. Ábalos and Mr. García, creating a narrative central to his political image. The recent convictions have turned this narrative into a political issue.
Other investigations have emerged against:
- Begoña Gómez, Mr. Sánchez’ wife, was ordered to surrender her passport and stand trial on charges of corruption and influence peddling. This case has been under investigation since 2024.
- David Sánchez, Mr. Sánchez’ brother, is on trial for allegedly receiving a patronage job.
- José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a former prime minister and ally of Mr. Sánchez, was accused of receiving kickbacks worth up to $2.4 million for persuading the government to bail out an airline.
- The Socialist Party, whose headquarters were recently raided by police looking for evidence of a mudslinging campaign against judges investigating Mr. Sánchez’ family.
Mr. Sánchez has described the cases against his wife and brother, who deny the accusations, as politically motivated. Judicial experts and political analysts also have doubts about these trials. He continues to support Mr. Zapatero, who maintains his innocence. Despite this, Mr. Sánchez has tried to distance himself from Mr. Ábalos.