Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has warned against politicizing judicial investigations, saying his Socialist Party “will act decisively”
Spanish police have searched the headquarters of the country’s ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) in a graft probe involving alleged influence-peddling and irregular party financing.
According to local media, investigators from the Civil Guard’s elite Central Operative Unit (UCO) entered the party’s Madrid offices on Wednesday to obtain evidence of suspected illegal financing.
The case is reportedly centered on former PSOE member Leire Diez; several former party officials and businessmen are also said to be under scrutiny. Diez is accused of attempting to influence graft investigations and discredit members of Spain’s anti-corruption police unit, allegations she denies.
PSOE, which is led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, said it would cooperate fully with investigators and hand over any requested information but has denied any attempt to conceal evidence.
Sanchez, who is in Rome for talks with Pope Leo XIV, told reporters there had been “a lot of fake news” and insisted the party “will act decisively, as we always have.” He also warned against politicizing judicial investigations and rejected opposition calls for snap elections, saying he could not call a vote for “partisan interests” but only “for the general interest of the citizens.”
Wednesday’s raid comes amid several ongoing probes involving figures close to Sanchez, including separate inquiries linked to his wife and brother. Earlier this month, the National Court placed former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero – a longtime Socialist leader and key Sanchez ally – under investigation in a separate case linked to the 2021 state bailout of airline Plus Ultra. Zapatero denies wrongdoing, while Sanchez has publicly backed the former prime minister.
Sanchez, who has led Spain since 2018, has emerged as one of the EU’s most vocal critics of Israel’s war in Gaza and the US-Israeli military escalation with Iran. He has pushed for limits on arms sales to Israel and refused to allow American forces to use Spanish bases for operations linked to strikes on Iran, saying Madrid would not be “complicit” in the conflict – moves that have heightened tensions with Washington and West Jerusalem.
