Spanish police conducted a raid on the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in Madrid on May 27, 2026, as part of ongoing investigations into financial wrongdoing and influence peddling within the party [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The search is linked to a National Court probe led by Judge Santiago Pedraz, focusing on former party member Leire Díez and her alleged role in efforts to discredit anti-corruption investigators and interfere with judicial procedures, based on leaked audio recordings from 2025 [3, 5, 6].
The broader inquiry covers allegations of criminal organization, bribery, influence peddling, falsification of documents, and misuse of public funds [6, 1, 7]. Former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been formally investigated for influence peddling and money laundering tied to a €53 million 2021 government bailout of the airline Plus Ultra [1, 8, 2, 4, 5, 6]. Authorities accuse Zapatero of heading a hierarchical network that profited from lobbying activities and possibly laundering Venezuelan funds across Europe [8, 2, 4, 6].
Several close associates also face charges. Former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán are accused of accepting kickbacks related to public contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic and other procurements [1, 7, 9]. Prosecutors are seeking a 24-year prison term for Ábalos in a trial ongoing since April 2026 [7].
Pedro Sánchez's family members are also under scrutiny. His brother David Sánchez went on trial May 28 for allegedly obtaining a public job in 2017 through nepotism, though both deny wrongdoing [8, 7, 9, 5]. Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, is investigated for allegedly leveraging influence to secure university sponsorships and misusing state funds for personal assistance; she denies the allegations [8, 7, 9, 5]. Pedro Sánchez himself has not been formally charged but faces mounting pressure and calls for resignation from opposition parties and protestors [1, 9, 4, 5]. Sánchez said, “There’s no doubt that there are judges doing politics and there are politicians trying to do justice” and commented, “I think there is no sufficient reason, there is no reason to change that position” [8, 4].
PSOE spokesperson Montse Minguez said the party was calm and fully cooperating with the courts, stressing that any requested information would be handed over [2]. Meanwhile, opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo called Sánchez’s government corrupt and renewed demands for early elections [4]. Economist Lorenzo Bernaldo de Quiros characterized Zapatero as Sánchez’s “ideological father” and said they are “two sides of the same coin” [9].
The investigation has seen key milestones including the 2017 nepotism allegation against David Sánchez, the 2021 Plus Ultra bailout implicated in laundering, and charges filed in 2023 against officials including Ábalos for pandemic-related kickbacks [8, 7, 4, 6]. The Sánchez family trials and corruption inquiries remain ongoing, with the public and political responses intensifying.
David Sánchez's trial commenced on May 28, marking the latest formal proceeding linked to the investigations [7]. Authorities continue probing the full extent of alleged corruption within PSOE circles.
