Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is well-known for the time he spends at the national properties at his disposal as president. One of his favorites is Quintos de Mora, a ranch-like property just south of the Spanish capital.
He often retreats to the luxurious country holding with his family—but also with his entire cabinet and, likely, more guests.
Equally famous is Sánchez’ lack of transparency on matters of public spending personally related to him, whether his use of state planes or vacation properties.
When the Spanish newspaper El Debate asked the president’s office for details on the government retreats to Quintos de Mora, they were told there simply wasn’t much to report, despite the fact that the president’s office publishes photos of the cabinet at the property. Last January, for example, Sánchez brought the entire cabinet, and at least thirteen other people, to the Toledo farm, according to El Debate.
The gathering followed a devastating failure by the government to pass key legislation, showing just how weak its position was. The press release and photo of the gathering stated it served to “promote the political project of the new legislature.”
El Debate requested documentation from Sánchez’ office about “the issues debated, meetings held, and conclusions obtained” from the retreat. Sanchez’ office responded that “The nature of the meeting does not require the drafting of minutes or a similar document detailing all topics discussed or conclusions reached,” despite the large number of attendees and the government’s promotion of the retreat as related to promoting its political project.
Sánchez’ office did not even provide a list of attendees. In the official documentation provided to the journalists, the government identified as participating “members of the Government and public employees who occupy jobs at level 28 or higher in the Staffing Plan of the Presidency of the Government,” citing data protection as the reason for not offering names.
Regarding other expenses, the presidency assured the news site that because of the location of the meeting place, as well as it being publicly owned “and the fact that this activity will occupy only a few hours a day, no other additional expenses beyond those usual at the Palace and Council of Ministers have been recorded.” The office did acknowledge that the government paid for “the rental of two buses for an amount of 2,410.50 euros,” as well as that an official car and an aircraft of the Spanish Air Force were used in the transportation.
El Debate surmises Sánchez likely traveled by helicopter, the Super Puma, an aircraft that he uses frequently, at the same time as he promotes legislation that could prohibit short flights for ordinary citizens to save the environment.
