Spanish opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has said the country’s Socialist-led Government “stinks” of corruption after police raided the ruling party’s Madrid headquarters as part of a widening corruption probe.
The searches were carried out this week while Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was visiting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, with Spanish police seizing documents from the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Searches were also conducted at the homes of senior party officials and a prominent businessman.
The raids form part of an investigation into allegations that party associate Leire Díez was paid to carry out a misinformation campaign aimed at disrupting legal cases linked to the Socialist Party. Díez has strongly denied the allegations.
The latest developments come amid growing scrutiny surrounding several figures connected to Spain’s Socialist Party and Sanchez’s political circle.
Last week, an investigation was launched into former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero over allegations of influence-peddling, which generally refers to the use of one’s political influence in exchange for financial or personal benefit. Zapatero denies all wrongdoing.
Members of Sanchez’s family have also become embroiled in separate legal matters. His wife is facing embezzlement charges following a two-year investigation, while his brother is facing influence-peddling charges. Both deny all allegations against them.
A former Socialist Party secretary has also been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for public contracts, which he denies. Meanwhile, a former Transport Minister is awaiting a court verdict following a four-week trial in which he was accused of illegally accepting commissions connected to mask sales during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
None of the individuals involved have been convicted of any offence, and all remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Spain’s conservative opposition party, the People’s Party, has sharply criticised the Government over the mounting allegations.
People’s Party MP Elías Bendodo accused the Government of engaging in “widespread corruption” and “irregular financing,” claiming ministers were attempting to “cover up this monumental scandal”.
Meanwhile, People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo also reacted to the police operation in a series of social media posts.
“It is incredible that the Government has been lecturing everyone for years – you have to be shameless!” the People’s Party leader said.
He later referenced Sanchez’s Vatican visit while criticising the Government over the corruption allegations.
“If Sánchez wants to get closer to the Vatican, he should remember the seventh commandment: thou shalt not steal, and the eighth: thou shalt not bear false witness,” Feijóo said.
The opposition leader later intensified his criticism of the Government, which he said “stinks”.
“How many more raids, how many more commissions, how many more bribes, how much more money in bags?”
Sanchez has repeatedly rejected accusations of wrongdoing involving his family, and members of his political party.
When news first emerged in 2024 that his wife was under investigation, the Socialist Prime Minister accused political opponents of orchestrating a politically motivated “harassment and bullying operation” targeting his relatives.
“The truth will come out in the end,” Sanchez said at the time.
“My brother and my wife are innocent.”
Last September, Sanchez also publicly criticised sections of Spain’s judiciary, suggesting that some judges were engaging in politically motivated actions against his party.
“There are judges doing politics, and politicians trying to do justice,” he said.
The investigations are unfolding ahead of Spain’s next general election, which is due to take place next August. Sánchez has been in power for almost 8 years.