Spanish Justice Opens Inquiry into Former Sánchez Minister for Corruption

Spain's justice system has opened an investigation into a former minister of the current head of government, Pedro Sánchez, due to suspicions of corruption in the purchase of masks during the pandemic, the country's Supreme Court announced today.

José Luis Ábalos, Minister of Transport for three years, until July 2021, was also, until then, Secretary of Organization of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and considered a 'right-hand man' of Sánchez.

Spanish justice had already been investigating Ábalos' former government advisor, Koldo García, for months for alleged corruption in the purchase of masks during the Covid-19 pandemic by structures of the national public administration and autonomous governments.

A few weeks ago, the judge responsible for the 'Koldo case' asked the Supreme Court for Ábalos to also be investigated in this case, a decision that has to be taken by this higher court as the former minister is a deputy in the national parliament.

The Supreme Court confirmed today, in a statement, that Ábalos will be investigated and that there are suspicions of "participation in a criminal organization, influence peddling, corruption and embezzlement of funds".

This case, along with the investigation involving the prime minister's wife, Begoña Gómez, on suspicion of influence peddling and corruption, has been one of the most used in recent months by the opposition in Spain to attack Pedro Sánchez, who has been at the head of the Spanish Government since 2018.

The opposition accuses Sánchez of already knowing since 2021 about the corruption involving Ábalos and of having covered it up, which is why they removed him from the Government and the leadership of the PSOE in July of that year.

Last month, Sánchez denied these accusations and recalled that Ábalos left the government with other ministers, as part of a broad reshuffle, ensuring that this change aimed to give new energy to the executive after the pandemic.

José Luis Ábalos was expelled from the PSOE in February this year, when the first news about the 'Koldo case' was released, but he refused to leave parliament and remained an independent deputy.

The deputy assured in a hearing in the Spanish Senate that he was not aware of an alleged corruption network supervised by Koldo García, despite the close and personal connection he had with the former advisor.