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Sánchez Dismisses Socialist Corruption Scandal and Reappoints Inner Circle

Politics - December 4, 2024

Last weekend, the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which leads Spain’s national government, held its 41st Federal Congress in Seville, the capital of Andalusia. This gathering was particularly significant for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who began a new term as Secretary-General after being re-elected for the fourth time since assuming the party’s leadership in 2014.

The Federal Congress provided Sánchez with an opportunity to solidify his position within the party and rally support among his base. In the face of growing scrutiny over allegations surrounding his inner circle, Sánchez used the event to shore up his political legitimacy and redirect attention toward his leadership team.

Despite mounting investigations involving family members and key figures in his administration, the Congress allowed Sánchez to spotlight the party’s new priorities and leadership appointments. Sánchez retained his close allies in senior party positions, signalling continuity in the PSOE’s strategy. María Jesús Montero, currently Deputy Prime Minister, was confirmed as Deputy Secretary-General, despite criticism over her struggles to secure approval for the General State Budgets during her tenure as interim Minister of Finance.

Similarly, Santos Cerdán was re-appointed as Secretary of Organisation, the third-highest position in the party. Cerdán, who has previously acted as a liaison between Sánchez and Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, dismissed ongoing judicial investigations involving Sánchez’s inner circle as “lies” during the Congress.

A key figure at the event was Begoña Gómez, Sánchez’s wife, who attended the closing session as a member of the PSOE’s executive. Gómez, currently under investigation for charges including influence peddling, corruption, embezzlement, and professional misconduct, received a warm standing ovation from party members. Her appearance, flanked by top officials such as Montero and Cerdán, underscored the party’s public defence of her amid the ongoing allegations.

Gómez is set to testify in December on additional charges of embezzlement and professional misconduct, which were added to the case following her earlier testimony in July 2023 regarding influence peddling and corruption.

Former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero played a prominent role in the Congress, vigorously defending Sánchez and Gómez. He dismissed the legal investigations as baseless and accused the opposition of spreading “fake news,” making “unnecessary noise,” and weaponising the courts against the government. Zapatero’s remarks sought to portray the scrutiny around Sánchez’s administration as part of a broader campaign of political harassment.

While the leadership appointments largely reflected continuity, the Congress also introduced new faces, particularly from Madrid and Andalusia. These additions acknowledged the importance of these regions, where the PSOE lost significant ground to the opposition People’s Party (PP) in recent regional elections. However, the overall composition of the executive body was designed to project unity and stability within the party.

One notable change was the replacement of Ana Redondo, the Minister of Equality, with Pilar Bernabé. Bernabé, who served as the Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, was credited for her leadership during the response to the devastating DANA storm. Her appointment was seen as a strategic move to strengthen the PSOE’s credibility in regions affected by recent crises.

In his closing speech, Sánchez largely avoided addressing the investigations surrounding his inner circle. Instead, he focused on setting an ambitious new priority for the PSOE: winning the regional, municipal, and general elections in 2027. The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenge posed by the PP, which currently governs most of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities after its strong showing in the last regional elections.

Although the PP holds the most seats in Parliament, it failed to secure a majority, enabling Sánchez to form a government through alliances with Basque, Catalan, and Galician nationalist parties. This reliance on regionalist factions has been a point of contention, further intensifying scrutiny of Sánchez’s leadership.

The Congress concluded with Sánchez leading the party in a rendition of “The Internationale,” a symbolic gesture aimed at reaffirming the PSOE’s ideological roots. Despite the controversies and challenges ahead, the event allowed Sánchez to reassert his control over the party and outline his roadmap for the years to come.