On Monday, José Luis Ábalos, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s former right-hand man, denied irregularities in pandemic-era face mask purchases during a corruption trial rocking the government. As former transport minister and a key Socialist figure, Ábalos is accused of receiving kickbacks for the illegal awarding of contracts when masks were in short supply.
Questioned about a contract for eight million masks allegedly linked to illegal commissions, Ábalos told the Supreme Court in Madrid: “It was just another contract.” The trial is set to conclude on Tuesday; Ábalos faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
The case is one of several graft investigations involving Sánchez’s relatives and former allies, straining the minority government’s stability. These scandals have jeopardized the Socialists’ relations with their far-left coalition partner, Sumar, as well as the regional separatist parties whose support is vital for passing legislation.
