Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday marked the most dramatic political day in this legislature.
It was a dark day, with setbacks for the government, on the eve of the appearance before the Supreme Court. Koldo Garcia and Jose Luis Abalos.
This Thursday, when both appear before a judge, Congress will likely lower government spending caps.
The first blow to the executive authority came yesterday in the form of a tweet.
During the celebration of the plenary session of Congress, the former Secretary General of the Socialist Workers’ Party of Pedro Sanchez and Santos Cerdan with Arnaldo Otegi In a village in the Basque Country.
“I can only say what personal sources have told me, which is that this interview existed,” Abalos said, contradicting Sanchez, who denied this on Monday.
Koldo Garcia, who worked as a driver, is not the only one who acknowledges that this meeting took place. It is also Abalos, who at that time was specifically responsible for collecting the votes to draw up the censure motion that ended in expulsion Mariano Rajoy Moncloa.
A critical day began for the socialists. The shock to which the Socialist Workers’ Party was exposed was and remains comprehensive.
It did not go unnoticed in the groups that Sanchez’s companion that day in the village, Santos Cerdán, remained silent.
They in government tried to belittle Ábalos’s credibility, and even questioned his emotional balance: “People get upset when they are in court proceedings“.
Hours later, parliamentary sources issued a threat to him: If he goes to prison and does not submit the report, he can stay Without compensation This is consistent with his active life as an MP.
Having been in the House of Representatives for 16 years, and taking into account that the compensation includes one month’s salary for each year of work, the amount It can reach 80 thousand euros.
More visits
But the executive branch had not yet recovered from Abalos’ tweet when a new alert arrived on mobile phones.
judge Arturo ZamariegoContact the coach ler caseSantos Cerdan cited as witnesses and Antonio HernandoMinister of State for Communications.
Both Cerdan and Hernando attended two meetings held in April 2024 at Ferraz’s headquarters, where the former commissioner’s votes were discussed. Jose Manuel Villarejo Which contains conversations about Sanchez’s father-in-law’s saunas.
At the time, Hernando was deputy chief of staff to the prime minister.
The plumbing scandal continues to escalate and the judge wants to know if those responsible for Ferraz and Moncloa knew about their movements.
The third strike that day came at noon, when the National Court judge was attacked Ismael Moreno It agreed to ask PSOE to provide a list of cash payments made between 2017 and 2024. It gives it a 10-day window.
He even asked Ferraz to provide documents supporting these payments.
The letter talks about a range of possible crimes, “from money laundering to possible embezzlement.”
The Socialist Workers’ Party responded via a statement, in which it promised to provide the court with all the required information, and categorically ruled out investigating the party. Officially, it is like this, but in depth it is a complete investigation.
The fourth blow came from Andalusia. Agents from the Central Operations Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard searched Dos Hermanas City Hall to investigate whether… Paco Salazar – Until July, one of Sánchez’s main councilors in Moncloa could receive a salary of €2,000 a month from the council without going to work.
It so happens that Salazar had to resign from his position this summer after several anonymous accusations of sexual harassment. A few weeks ago, the Minister Pilar Alegría He had to explain himself after having lunch with him.
Today, around the same time that Abalos and Koldow appear before the Supreme Court, Congress will debate The path to stability.
Junts has already informed the government that it will vote against it and that it will be dropped. Their seven votes were decisive after Podemos and Kompromes abstained from voting.
The defeat will be another setback for the government, which will see Congress nullify the first step in preparing budgets, two days after Brussels informed it that it, along with France, is the only country to which accounts have not been sent, and that it is at risk of failing to adhere to the spending path for 2026.
In addition, it will appear Parliamentary weakness The executive power can henceforth be left without another vote: the vote of abalos.