MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s former right-hand man takes the stand on Wednesday as a key suspect in a corruption trial that has cast doubt on the Socialist-led government’s future. The trial of Jose Luis Abalos is just one of several investigations into alleged corruption by Sanchez’s family and ex-political allies that have rocked an already fragile minority coalition.
Abalos, a former transport minister and Socialist heavyweight who helped propel Sanchez to power in 2018, is accused of earning kickbacks for the irregular awarding of contracts for face masks at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Supreme Court in Madrid is also due to hear his former adviser Koldo Garcia and businessman Victor de Aldama for their alleged roles in the scheme.
Prosecutors say Abalos abused his position in government to allow Aldama to land lucrative public contracts for face masks, with Garcia acting as an intermediary to implement the murky dealings.
In return, Abalos allegedly received cash and favours he used to finance a sumptuous lifestyle, including family holidays and a luxury Madrid flat for his now ex-partner.
Prosecutors are seeking 24 years in jail for Abalos on charges including bribery, embezzlement, influence peddling and membership of a criminal organisation.
Abalos and Garcia, who spent months in pre-trial detention, have consistently denied the allegations. Aldama was freed after cooperating with the investigation.
Since the trial began on April 7, dozens of witnesses have been questioned about alleged wrongdoing, including the movement of cash in envelopes and the appointment of Abalos’s ex-lover to fake jobs in public companies.
Proceedings are scheduled to end on Thursday, but reaching a sentence may take months.
Succession of scandals
Yet the case has already damaged Sanchez, who came to power vowing to clean up Spanish politics after the main conservative Popular Party (PP) was convicted in its own graft affair.
After removing Abalos from the powerful post of Socialist organisation secretary, Sanchez picked a successor, Santos Cerdan, who is also under investigation for alleged corruption in public contracts.
The Socialists’ turmoil has rocked relations with their far-left junior coalition partner Sumar and an array of fringe and regional separatist parties whose support is essential to pass legislation.
Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, could go on trial for allegedly exploiting her position for private gain, in an investigation that has lasted two years and dominated headlines.
His brother, David Sanchez, will face trial in May on suspicion of being irregularly appointed to a local government post.
The PP and far-right opposition party Vox say the accumulation of scandals has exposed systemic Socialist corruption that reaches Sanchez himself, demanding his resignation and early elections.
Sanchez has always denied illegal financing of the Socialist party and rebuffed the calls for a vote before the next scheduled general election in 2027. — AFP