Spain: Problems galore for Pedro Sanchez in corruption probes, Opposition says ‘hell before Christmas’

PM’s allies argue that these scandals are part of a politically motivated witch hunt, especially as he struggles to maintain a fragile parliamentary majority, according to a report As Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez seeks to fend off a barrage of corruption probes into members of his family and his party, Cuca Gamarra, spokesperson for the opposition conservative People’s Party, has claimed that the PM is is experiencing “hell before Christmas.” According to a Politico report, PM’s allies argue that these scandals are part of a politically motivated witch hunt, especially as he struggles to maintain a fragile parliamentary majority. “The government of Pedro Sánchez is at a critical juncture, it’s in a very difficult position,” Politico quoted political scientist Lluís Orriols, author of Democracia de trincheras, as saying. Sánchez’s allies have characterized these investigations as part of a right-wing effort — supported by the media and biased magistrates — to destabilise his government, Politico reported_._ “We know that they want to corral you through your family, we know that they are going after you because you represent the best of progress in Spain,” Politico quoted María Jesús Montero, finance minister and deputy secretary of the Socialist Workers’ Party, as saying to Sánchez at a recent rally. In April, shortly after forming a new coalition government, Sánchez threatened to resign in response to the investigation into his wife, describing it as an attempt “to dehumanise and delegitimize the political adversary through scandalous and false accusations.” While the cases involving his family have received significant coverage in right-leaning newspapers, neither has resulted in charges so far, leading many observers to speculate that they may eventually be dismissed.