US EditionCorruption Scandal Grips Spain as Ex-Socialist Official Detained
- On Monday, 30 June 2025, Leopoldo Puente, a judge at the Supreme Court, mandated that Santos Cerdán, who recently stepped down as the secretary of the Socialist Party's organisation and served as an MP, be held in custody without bail in Madrid on allegations including corruption, money laundering, and involvement in a criminal group.
- This detention followed a police report and media-released audio recordings found in February 2024 linking Cerdán, former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos, and adviser Koldo García to an alleged kickback scheme for public contracts.
- Cerdán denied all accusations, calling the case political persecution and claiming recordings were taken out of context, while Prime Minister Sánchez defended prompt ousting and distancing of the party from the scandal.
- Judge Puente justified Cerdán’s imprisonment due to compelling evidence and a significant risk of evidence tampering, while Sánchez emphasized that judicial authorities must now determine accountability.
- The scandal has heightened political tension and opposition calls for Prime Minister Sánchez’s resignation and snap elections, which he has so far resisted amid his fragile minority government.
65 Articles
65 Articles
The former secretary of socialist organization has gone from being the key piece of the structure of the executive and of the relationship with the partners to being imprisoned for allegedly being the manager of commissions and bites in the 'Koldo tram'.
It has been a horrible month for the Spanish official, in which the media expect every day that something new is known about the most recent corruption case of the socialists, or the president of the government Pedro Sánchez makes an important decision, such as that of advancing the elections. And worse, from the PP they advanced a “week of nightmare” for the PSOE, and has already begun: the former socialist deputy Santos Cerdán, one of the trus…
Santos Cerdán, who was recently the closest man to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, was detained on Monday. Leopoldo Puente of the Supreme Court, who is leading the preliminary investigation into what is known as the “Koldo scandal,” claims that Cerdán is suspected of leading a criminal organization.
Top Spanish Socialist Detained in Corruption Scandal
Spanish authorities on Monday detained former top Socialist party official Santos Cerdán in a corruption case that is a new blow for left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, judicial sources said. Former transport minister José Luis Ábalos has also been implicated in the investigation into kickbacks for public contracts. The sources said a Supreme Court judge ordered the detention of Cerdán, who has quit as the ruling party’s organisation secreta…
The instructor sends the former socialist leader to jail without bail for bribery, criminal organization and trading in influence.
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