Prime Minister Sanchez defends his party's financing before the Senate committee

The financing of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) is fully legal – assured on Thursday the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, when questioned before a Senate committee regarding the corruption scandal in the top management of the ruling party.

The politician appeared before the committee of the chamber dominated by the opposition People's Party (PP). During the five-hour hearing, there were tense moments and sharp exchanges between the prime minister and opposition politicians.

– There is no such thing as zero corruption, but there is zero tolerance for corruption – said Sanchez, who was asked about his former close associates: Santos Cerdan and former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, who are accused of illegally accepting financial benefits.

Sanchez, whose party has come under pressure over a scandal in its top leadership, emphasizes that he had no knowledge of corruption in his party and that the PSOE reacted immediately when the irregularities came to light.

The politician admitted that in the past he had received cash from the party to cover expenses, but always on the basis of an invoice, and the amounts never exceeded EUR 1,000.

The Prime Minister called the Senate committee a “circus” and said it was being used for “defamation” and political games. In turn, its participants demanded that he respect the upper house of the Spanish parliament.

In recent weeks, PSOE has been losing support in opinion polls due to a corruption scandal in its ranks. Cerdan, the prime minister's right-hand man and a high-ranking PSOE activist, was arrested; He is accused of participating in leading an organized criminal group, bribery and using political influence.

Corruption is a constant problem in Spain. In 2018, one of the largest corruption scandals in the country's history, known as the Guertel scandal, contributed to the fall of the government of Mariano Rajoy from the PP, which marked the beginning of several years of PSOE rule.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

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