David Sánchez sentenced to nine years disqualification in Spain

The Audiencia Provincial de Badajoz convicted David Sánchez Pérez‑Castejón, brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to nine years of inhabilitación from any public employment, position or the right to vote. The court found he obtained a specially created post – coordinator of conservatory activities in the Diputación of Badajoz – through administrative prevarication. The same judgment also sentenced former Diputación president Miguel Ángel Gallardo and several other officials to comparable bans. The decision is not final and can be appealed.

Government officials describe the ruling as a politically motivated attempt to "derribar a un gobierno"; Transport Minister Óscar Puente wrote that "this epoch will be studied in history books". Opposition leaders hailed it as historic, with ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián calling the penalty "una sobrada importante". The case has become a focal point of partisan debate over alleged law‑fare and corruption.

Reactions have intensified calls for accountability and have raised questions about the impact on the Sánchez administration’s stability.