Spanish media criticised Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for going on holiday while corruption allegations continue to escalate.
A police report from June 2025 claims a “mafia-like” network operates within the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE). Public anger grew further on July 22, when Sánchez’s government launched the first phase of a new state secrets law, granting the executive power to define what counts as an official secret.
This law could potentially shield Sánchez and his inner circle from legal and public scrutiny, giving the alleged PSOE network more freedom to exploit public resources. Investigations into suspicious government travel—over 60 official trips to the Dominican Republic—could uncover more evidence of illicit kickbacks.
No matter how the PSOE tries to present it, the optics are damaging. Sánchez is seen relaxing on vacation while corruption claims reach a peak. Once parliament reconvenes after the summer break, the official secrets law is expected to pass—effectively giving his government legal cover from future leaks, reports, and scandals.
Still, not everything is going smoothly for Sánchez. Some PSOE members in parliament are beginning to express dissent. As a joke—or perhaps a warning—some suggest he might consider joining his embattled brother David in Japan, a country with no extradition treaty with Spain.
