Pedro Sánchez faces corruption scandals as PSOE gears up for Federal Committee and anti‑corruption law

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ruled out calling an early election despite a series of corruption investigations that have implicated senior members of his PSOE party, including former organization secretaries José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán, as well as other figures linked to his family and former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The scandals have heightened internal party tension ahead of the PSOE Federal Committee meeting scheduled for late June, where leaders are expected to assess the political fallout and set the calendar for upcoming municipal, regional and general elections in 2027.

The government plans to present a comprehensive anti‑corruption package to the Council of Ministers in July. The draft Public Integrity Law proposes creating an Independent Agency for Public Integrity to oversee prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption, consolidating powers of existing bodies such as the Conflict of Interest Office and the Whistle‑blower Protection Authority. The package also aims to tighten penalties for corrupt companies, introduce random asset checks for senior officials, and improve transparency of party financing. The legislation was first approved in February but stalled during the parliamentary recess. Sánchez has urged right‑wing and far‑right parties to support its passage, framing it as essential to restore public trust.