Spain’s PM Sánchez Holds Firm Amid Corruption Scandals

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Photo Credit: Video screenshot @sanchezcastejon, X

June 1, 2026 
 EurActiv
By Inés Fernández-Pontes

(EurActiv) — Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, vowed on Sunday to remain in office until the 2027 general election despite mounting corruption scandals engulfing his ruling Socialist party, key allies and figures close to his political circle.

Speaking at the youth congress of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), Sánchez defended his government’s record at his first major party rally since the Socialists suffered a historic defeatin Andalusia, once a party stronghold.

“Socialism may stumble, but we never give up on a fight,” he told the crowd. “We will continue to govern until 2027. And beyond!”


The Spanish leader insisted more time was needed for voters to feel the impact of the coalition’s social and economic policies, rejecting growing calls for snap elections as a series of judicial investigations pile pressure on his government.

Former socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a longtime Sánchez ally, is alsounder investigation by Spain’s National Court, the country’s top criminal court, over alleged influence peddling and money laundering linked to the bailout Venezuela-linked Spanish airline Plus Ultra.

Spanish police recently raided PSOE headquarters in Madrid as part of a separate judicial investigation into alleged attempts to interfere with legal proceedings involving current and former party figures.

The scandals have exposed growing tensions within the Socialist camp.

Emiliano García-Page, the powerful Socialist president of Castilla–La Mancha and one of Sánchez’s most prominent internal critics, warned this week that the party was facing its most dangerous moment since Spain’s return to democracy and urged Sánchez to hold a vote of confidence or call snap elections.

Patience is also wearing thin among some of the regionalist and separatist parties that keep Sánchez in power.

“Given the situation, we believe that the term has come to an end,” said Aitor Esteban, leader of the conservative Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), a key ally of Sánchez’s coalition. Catalan separatist party Junts also called for early elections.

Both parties, however, ruled out backing a no-confidence vote against Sánchez, as proposed by the far-right Vox party.

Pressure on Sánchez is set to mount in June, with Zapatero due to testify on 17–18 June and a landmark Supreme Court ruling expected before the summer in the graft case involving former minister José Luis Ábalos.