Lorraine Williamson
As Spain’s ruling Socialist party battles fresh fallout from the deepening ‘Caso Koldo’ scandal, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has retained the official backing of his party’s highest body – though discontent brews behind closed doors.
At the centre of the political storm are two of Sánchez’s long-time confidants, José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán. Both are under investigation for alleged bribery and involvement in a criminal network. Cerdán is now in pre-trial detention as the probe into a multimillion-euro mask procurement scheme during the COVID pandemic intensifies.
The scandal has dragged PSOE into dangerous territory just as the party faces mounting scrutiny from a combative opposition and a public weary of political misconduct.
Emergency meeting to reinforce leadership
In an urgent gathering on Saturday morning (July 5), the Federal Committee of the PSOE – the party’s highest governing organ between congresses – convened to contain the damage and shore up support for Sánchez. According to party insiders, his leadership is not formally under threat, despite evident unease in regional branches and a growing sense of fatigue over ethical lapses.
Only one prominent voice, Emiliano García-Page, the influential president of Castilla-La Mancha, openly called for a change of course. “Others think it,” said one ally of García-Page, “but they don’t dare say it out loud.”
The absence of historical PSOE heavyweights such as former prime minister Felipe González from the meeting further underscored the silent rifts within the party’s upper ranks.
Shake-up at the top: New faces, new strategy
In response to the crisis, Sánchez has reshuffled the party leadership. Rebeca Torró, known for her organisational acumen and loyalty to Sánchez’s inner circle, has been appointed Secretary of Organisation. She will be joined by three deputies. The party’s public face is also changing, with Montse Mínguez and Enma López replacing Esther Peña as co-spokespersons.
The overhaul is part of a broader push to signal renewal and regain the trust of a sceptical electorate.
Tougher ethics code in wake of damning revelations
Central to the PSOE’s damage control strategy is a tightening of its internal code of ethics. The revised rules allow for the immediate expulsion of any member implicated in corruption or involvement with prostitution.
The move follows the emergence of damning audio recordings reportedly featuring Ábalos and his former adviser Koldo García discussing arranging escorts. Sánchez described such behaviour as “utterly incompatible with party membership”.
In the wake of mounting pressure, Sánchez took to social media platform X to address the nation directly, striking a contrite yet defiant tone. “I appear with a heavy heart, but with undiminished resolve,” he wrote. “I remain just as committed to confronting adversity – and overcoming it. We will defeat corruption, both inside and outside our party.”
Acknowledging the damage to public trust, he added: “I ask for your forgiveness. We will not fail in our promise of democratic renewal.” The post, widely shared and scrutinised, sought to reframe the crisis as an opportunity for reform, though scepticism remains.
Gender equality and financial oversight
As part of its image reset, the PSOE is also vowing to place more women in senior roles. “It’s not just about optics – these are women with substance, experience, and charisma,” one provincial secretary noted.
The party is also rolling out new internal control measures, including random asset audits for elected officials and a system of double approval for financial decisions, aimed at reducing the risk of misuse of public funds.
A divided party faces a reckoning
Despite the bold rhetoric and structural shake-up, unease remains. Some PSOE members argue that changing personnel alone won’t erase years of growing distrust. “New faces help,” one senior figure admitted, “but unless there’s a serious rethink of how we operate, the cracks will deepen.”
The scandal comes at a delicate moment for Sánchez, who has weathered multiple crises in recent years, from pandemic management to fraught negotiations with Catalan separatists. Yet the ‘Caso Koldo’ affair threatens to leave a lasting stain, particularly if more names emerge or charges are brought.
Could the crisis trigger a shift in Spanish politics?
While Sánchez appears to have survived this latest challenge – for now – the PSOE’s internal fractures and the public’s dwindling faith in political integrity may signal deeper trouble ahead. As opposition parties circle and regional leaders grow restless, the question is no longer whether PSOE can contain the scandal, but whether it can survive its long-term consequences.
Source: Infobae.com