Spain’s Ruling Socialist Party Raided by Police

Officers from the central investigative unit of Spain’s national police raided the headquarters of the Socialist Party in Madrid this morning (Wednesday), the party of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, on suspicion of illegal financing and corruption. A police spokesperson confirmed the raid but declined to provide further details because of the confidentiality of the investigation.

The raid took place in the early morning hours and was intended to collect documents related to the financing of party activities. The case includes serious offenses: organized crime, bribery, falsification of commercial documents, disclosure of secrets, obtaining false testimony, false accusation, abuse of authority, influence peddling, and crimes against state institutions.

According to legal sources, the focus of the investigation is suspicious payments allegedly made through fake invoices that were meant to fund disinformation campaigns against judges, prosecutors, and members of the security forces. The sources added that so far no concrete evidence of illegal party financing has been uncovered, but the investigation is continuing.

At the same time, a corruption case is underway against former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who is suspected of accepting bribes connected to the 2021 rescue of the airline Plus Ultra — a controversial government bailout that took place during the coronavirus crisis. In a raid on his home, jewelry and valuable watches were seized from the safe of the man who once said that "being a socialist means you will have little, but give a lot."

Sánchez himself was in Rome on an official visit at the time of the raid. Later in the day, he is expected to hold a press conference, his first since the new allegations against Zapatero were revealed.

The ruling party rejected any suspicion of destroying evidence. Montse Mínguez, spokesperson for the Socialist Party, said in an interview with Radio Catalonia: "The Socialist Party is different from the People’s Party, and we have proved that many times. There is no destruction of evidence here. That is why all the requested information will be provided."

According to reports, police are expected to take testimony from several additional figures. The raid joins a series of corruption investigations that have recently been opened against people close to Sánchez, deepening the political crisis Spain is now facing.