Police raid PSOE headquarters in Madrid in corruption investigation
Agents from Spain's Guardia Civil Central Operations Unit have raided the Socialist party headquarters in Madrid seeking documentation related to an alleged corruption case at the state-owned holding company SEPI.
Police raid PSOE headquarters in Madrid in corruption investigation
Agents from the Central Operations Unit (UCO) of the Spanish Guardia Civil entered the headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in Madrid to request documentation. The operation is part of an investigation into alleged bribery at the state-owned holding company SEPI, according to the newspaper El Confidencial citing judicial sources.
The police operation is linked to the investigation of alleged irregularities within the public company, in which former PSOE member Leire Díez is allegedly involved. She is accused of illegal payments related to the holding company, which participates in the management of some strategic firms, according to the Croatian news agency Hina.
The leader of the main opposition, the Conservative People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, stated shortly after the operation that the Sánchez government "reeks of corruption" and again called for early elections, according to the French news agency AFP.
Spain's government president and PSOE leader, Pedro Sánchez, has already faced intense political pressure from investigations into alleged corruption affecting his wife, brother and a close former collaborator. Sánchez had characterised these proceedings as politically motivated.
Sánchez's political opponents are also using the investigation into the alleged corrupt behaviour of former Socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whom a Spanish court accused last week of several crimes related to the rescue of a small airline in 2021, including abuse of influence.
Sánchez expressed his support for Zapatero last week, and today stated there is no reason to withdraw it. "I believe there is no sufficient reason to change that position," Sánchez declared at a press conference during his meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
Last weekend, tens of thousands of people protested demanding Sánchez's resignation due to a series of corruption scandals in his immediate circle. The protests were supported by the Conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox.
Source: RTV Slovenija
Source: RTV SLO