Sanchez offers new measures to root out graft
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 09,2025 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 09,2025
Spanish Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz speaks after Prime Minister Sanchez spoke on alleged corruption probe involving the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party at the Parliament in Madrid. — Reuters
MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled a plan to root out corruption on Wednesday, seeking to maintain parliamentary support for his government after senior members of his governing Socialist Party were accused of taking bribes. A Supreme Court judge last month ordered the pre-trial detention of Santos Cerdan, the former number three in the party, over allegations that he received and distributed kickbacks in exchange for awarding public works contracts. Cerdan denies the allegations, which are part of a wider corruption inquiry that has led to opposition calls for a snap election that threaten to destabilise Sanchez's government.
Sanchez, who is Secretary General of the Socialist Party, told parliament at an extraordinary session on the case that he had briefly considered quitting but decided to stay on, arguing that he himself had done no wrong.
'I am a clean politician, I will not throw in the towel,' he said.
Sanchez, who again rejected calls for an early election, announced 15 measures including preventing companies found guilty of bribery from winning government procurement contracts and working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's anti-corruption team to crack down on graft.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the opposition People's Party, urged Sanchez to assume responsibility for his party's actions, report what he knew about the case and call elections. 'It's not only the decent way out, but you have no choice,' Feijoo said. — Reuters
Sanchez, who is Secretary General of the Socialist Party, told parliament at an extraordinary session on the case that he had briefly considered quitting but decided to stay on, arguing that he himself had done no wrong.
'I am a clean politician, I will not throw in the towel,' he said.
Sanchez, who again rejected calls for an early election, announced 15 measures including preventing companies found guilty of bribery from winning government procurement contracts and working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's anti-corruption team to crack down on graft.
Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the opposition People's Party, urged Sanchez to assume responsibility for his party's actions, report what he knew about the case and call elections. 'It's not only the decent way out, but you have no choice,' Feijoo said. — Reuters