A Spanish court has heard allegations linking Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to a corruption scheme involving rigged public contracts and illegal party financing, as a high-profile trial against his former ally continues.
The case centres on former transport minister José Luis Ábalos—a and key figure in Sánchez’s rise to power—who is accused of receiving kickbacks tied to the awarding of contracts for face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prosecutors allege that Ábalos abused his position to benefit businessman Víctor de Aldama, with ex-adviser Koldo García acting as an intermediary in the scheme.
During a court hearing in Madrid, Aldama claimed that some of the profits generated from the contracts were used to fund the ruling Socialist party, telling the court
If there is a hierarchy in this case, Sánchez was at level one.
In other words, Aldama placed the prime minister above Ábalos and García in the illicit procurement process. Ábalos and García have consistently denied the allegations and are expected to present their testimony before the Supreme Court.
