Pedro Sánchez

The period of infection coincided with a major diplomatic crisis with Morocco, fuelling political and journalistic suspicions, but the government did not publicly identify the perpetrator in the sources considered. The Audiencia Nacional closed the investigation again in January 2026 because of a lack of cooperation from Israeli authorities. Journalistic investigations in 2026 publicly reinforced suspicions concerning Moroccan intelligence services, without constituting a final Spanish judicial finding.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

The measure triggered demonstrations, opposition from PP/Vox and strong criticism from judicial associations, particularly because Sánchez had previously rejected the idea of an amnesty. Supporters viewed it as a strategy for normalising territorial relations. The Constitutional Court upheld most of the law in June 2025; in July 2026, the CJEU ruled that it largely did not violate EU law, while striking down a procedural provision. Its politically transactional nature is established, but the main judicial reviews did not invalidate the law.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In April 2024, an investigation was opened into Begoña Gómez over suspicions concerning her professional activities and the alleged use of her status as the Prime Minister's wife. Sánchez suspended his activities for five days before deciding to remain in office. He was heard as a witness in July 2024 and exercised his right not to answer because of the marital relationship. In July 2026, the court confirmed the path towards a jury trial for influence peddling and embezzlement, while dropping other charges. On 8 September 2026, Judge Peinado held the preliminary hearing before formal commencement of the trial; the defence and prosecution sought dismissal or acquittal. As at 13 September, no evidence establishes that Pedro Sánchez had been charged.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

David Sánchez was convicted of administrative misconduct in public office and disqualified from holding public office for nine years, but the court rejected the influence peddling charge. The decision is subject to appeal. Reuters emphasised that the judgment did not find that Pedro Sánchez had influenced the recruitment; nevertheless, the opposition used the affair to allege family nepotism. The Prime Minister defended his brother and maintained that the proceedings were politically motivated.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In June 2026, the Supreme Court sentenced Ábalos to 24 years' imprisonment and Koldo García to 19 years for receiving kickbacks on public contracts and other offences. Ábalos had already been expelled from the PSOE in 2024. The convictions establish corruption by former senior government/PSOE officials, but Reuters specified that Pedro Sánchez was not named in any of the cases surveyed as at 22 June 2026. Sánchez's responsibility is political: his earlier selection and retention of a minister and party leader who was subsequently convicted.

Person targeted by the proceedings

José Luis Ábalos et Koldo García

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In April 2024, he considered resigning for five days before deciding to stay. In 2025, following Santos Cerdán's downfall, and then in 2026 after the Ábalos/Koldo convictions and family proceedings, he maintained that he would serve out his term and that criminal responsibility must remain individual. The opposition portrayed the accumulation of cases as a systemic problem; Sánchez stressed that he was not personally implicated in any of them and promised integrity reforms. This event summarises political responsibility but must not be used to manufacture criminal guilt by association.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Cerdán was remanded in custody in June 2025 and conditionally released in November; he awaits trial for alleged offences including corruption, organised crime and influence peddling. He denies the allegations. Sánchez publicly apologised for having supported him but nevertheless refused to call early elections. The affair carries substantial political responsibility for the PSOE leadership but does not establish that Sánchez knew about or participated in the kickbacks.

Attribution

Command responsibility

Person targeted by the proceedings

Santos Cerdan

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Proceedings arising from the Cerdán/Koldo affairs are examining cash payments and alleged manoeuvres to obstruct investigations concerning the PSOE or the government. In September 2026, the Audiencia Nacional continued investigating the branch known as 'caso Leire': investigators suspect Santos Cerdán of organising a structure coordinated by Leire Díez, using party resources and at least 43,225 euros in indirect payments. On 9 September, PSOE administrator Ana María Fuentes stated that she had authorised certain invoices on Cerdán's instructions. Sánchez denies knowing about or authorising an obstruction operation.

In late July 2026, an exceptional wave of crossings from Morocco into Ceuta triggered a humanitarian and political crisis. The figures continued rising after the initial reports of 1 August: by early September, Reuters accounts reported more than 70,000 crossings and NGOs reported more than 100 deaths. A Spanish police report described unusual passivity by Moroccan forces over several hours, but Sánchez stated on 3 September that no concrete evidence established that Rabat had orchestrated the wave; Morocco formally denied this on 10 September. A poll published on 7 September indicated that a majority of Spaniards were dissatisfied with the government's handling of the crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The government defended the measure on grounds of human rights, integration, labour needs and financing the welfare state. It came as many European governments were instead tightening their migration policies. Critics saw it as a pull factor and an additional burden on services; economists quoted by Reuters nevertheless emphasised that immigration contributes to strong growth and falling unemployment. No direct causal link with the Ceuta crisis has been demonstrated in the sources considered.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

García Ortiz, appointed under Sánchez in 2022, was barred from holding his position for two years, fined and ordered to compensate the complainant. Sánchez and his government had publicly supported him during the investigation and trial, invoking his presumption of innocence. Following the verdict, the government said it respected but disagreed with the decision and initiated his replacement. The case fuelled allegations of manipulation of the prosecution service, but no evidence considered shows that Sánchez ordered the leak.

Attribution

Political responsibility

Person targeted by the proceedings

Álvaro García Ortiz

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

As at 31 March 2023, the General Council of the Judiciary had recorded 978 sentence reductions and 104 early releases. Sánchez acknowledged an unintended effect and apologised to victims. The PSOE then amended the law with People's Party support, against the position of its partner Unidas Podemos and Irene Montero. This was a legislative error for which Sánchez accepted political responsibility, not a personal offence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In late 2022, the PSOE–Unidas Podemos government passed a Criminal Code reform abolishing the offence of sedition and replacing it with aggravated public disorder, while reintroducing a lesser form of embezzlement where there was no personal enrichment. The reform directly affected the legal classifications used against several leaders of the Catalan independence process.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Citizen Lab identified more than 60 people associated with the Catalan independence movement whose phones had been targeted using Pegasus or similar tools. In 2022, the CNI director acknowledged before Congress that Spanish intelligence had monitored 18 independence officials or activists with judicial authorisation, including Pere Aragonès. The crisis contributed to the dismissal of intelligence director Paz Esteban.

State of the evidence

Documented

Right-wing parties accused Sánchez of using institutions to maintain his majority, while the government accused the PP of blocking renewal of the CGPJ for years. The European Union repeatedly called for reform and renewal in line with independence standards. The record treats this polarisation as a systemic controversy and avoids concluding that Sánchez personally took control of the judiciary without a specific court ruling.

Attribution

Political responsibility

The policy reversal restored relations with Rabat following a diplomatic crisis but provoked opposition from a majority of Spanish MPs, including government partner Unidas Podemos, and damaged relations with Algeria. The government defended the need to stabilise relations with Morocco on migration, the economy and security. No evidence establishes that the decision was exchanged for any personal benefit to Sánchez.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A majority of six judges to five found that the general lockdown amounted to a suspension of rights requiring a state of emergency rather than a state of alarm. The decision notably opened the way to the annulment of penalties. The government respected the judgment but emphasised the division among judges and defended the measures as necessary to save lives during a deadly wave. This was a direct constitutional setback for the executive, not a criminal offence committed by Sánchez.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Sánchez presented the measure as necessary for reconciliation and coexistence. The Supreme Court had considered that those convicted had shown no remorse and opposed the pardons in an advisory report. The right and part of the public condemned what they regarded as a political concession; however, pardons fall within a lawful executive power, and no court characterised them as personal corruption.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Reuters reported that Rodríguez remained in an airport area considered by sources to be outside Spanish territory for border-control purposes, while the European Commission left member states some discretion in interpreting transit zones. La Moncloa had instructed Ábalos to manage the stopover to avoid a diplomatic incident. The episode concerns opacity and political management by Sánchez's government; no source considered establishes that Sánchez personally met Rodríguez or committed a criminal violation of sanctions.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Indirectly implicated

The Sánchez government initiated the transfer of Francisco Franco's remains from Valle de los Caídos, describing the dictator's presence in a state mausoleum as a democratic anomaly. The Franco family and opponents fought a legal and political battle, and the issue deeply polarised the country ahead of elections.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Following a failed initial investiture, Sánchez stated in September 2019 that he would not 'sleep soundly' with certain ministers close to Pablo Iglesias and portrayed a PSOE–Unidas Podemos coalition as unstable. After the November repeat election, Sánchez and Iglesias reached a preliminary coalition agreement in less than two days; the full agreement was signed on 30 December, and Iglesias became Deputy Prime Minister.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Reuters reported that Sánchez published Turnitin and Plagscan results and threatened legal action against media outlets accusing him of copying passages. The controversy arose during a period of academic scandals involving several Spanish officials. The tools had detected similarities, but the government described them as minor and consistent with citations and technical wording. No university decision revoking his doctorate or conviction for academic fraud has been identified.

Attribution

Directly implicated