On Wednesday, Spanish anti-corruption police raided the headquarters of the Socialist Party led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Madrid as part of an investigation into alleged illegal financing of the ruling party.
According to reports from Spanish media, the Central Operating Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard’s elite force was deployed to gather evidence during the raid. This operation is linked to the investigation of the ruling party’s involvement in illegal financing.
The raid took place just a week after former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero was charged with money laundering, influence-peddling, and other criminal offenses related to the 2021 Plus Ultra airline bailout scheme by the National Court.
Zapatero, a key ally of Sánchez and a long-time leader of the Socialist Party, has been implicated in these legal issues.
Reports from “El Confidencial” website stated that Wednesday’s operation by the Central Operating Unit had been authorized by the National Court, in connection with another investigation overseen by Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutors.
Since the news of Zapatero’s indictment surfaced, Sánchez’s minority government has been under immense pressure.
Over the past year, Sánchez’s party has been embroiled in a series of corruption scandals. Even regionalist parties that helped the left-wing coalition, which supported Sánchez’s government formation in 2023 and played a crucial role in legislation, are increasingly reluctant to associate with the Prime Minister and his party.
Aitor Esteban, the chairman of the Basque Nationalist Party, suggested on Sunday that Sánchez should hold early elections by the end of the year. He believed that it would be “difficult” for the Prime Minister to remain in power until the end of the current legislative term in August 2027.
“We already have nine public indictments, and now we have this case of Zapatero added. If after 2026, without direction, budget, stable majority, and the agenda out of control, governing continues with legal entanglements, it would be irresponsible,” he said.
Following the Wednesday raid on the Socialist Party headquarters by anti-corruption police, the timeline for Sánchez to step down may be accelerated.
Another key ally of Sánchez, Gabriel Rufián of the Republican Left of Catalonia, stated on Monday that if there was substantial evidence of widespread corruption, such as illegal party financing within the Socialist Party, it would trigger a demand for elections.
“If the Socialist Party finds itself in a similar situation, we will call for elections. It’s only logical,” he said.