Brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Goes on Trial
Prosecutors say David Sánchez was unlawfully handpicked for a senior role, while defense lawyers seek dismissal and argue the case is time-barred.
- On Thursday, David Sánchez appeared before the Audiencia de Badajoz for a corruption trial, becoming the first relative of a sitting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to face such charges in the country's democratic history.
- Prosecutors allege Sánchez was unlawfully handpicked as musical activities coordinator for the Badajoz Provincial Council in 2017, with him and 11 other defendants including Miguel Ángel Gallardo facing charges of influence peddling and abuse of office.
- During the opening session, defense lawyers criticized the case's origins and called for dismissal, with Emilio Cortes arguing the alleged offenses passed the statute of limitations and others dismissing the Manos Limpias complaint as a "fishing expedition."
- Presiding judge Jose Antonio Patrocinio indicated proceedings could extend until mid-June, potentially overlapping with former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's testimony in a separate corruption investigation, compounding pressure on the Socialist Party.
- Lawyers representing provincial council officials denied knowing the role was specially designed for Sánchez, while Cortes alleged his client's legal rights were violated through mass seizure of personal emails.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Spanish PM Under Pressure as Brother Goes on Trial for Graft
The brother of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez went on trial on Thursday, May 28th in a corruption-related case that has intensified political pressure on the country’s Socialist-led government. The case concerns allegations of preferential treatment in the creation and awarding of a public-sector job in the southwestern province of Badajoz. David Sánchez—a composer and orchestra conductor who has worked in cities including Toulouse, Tokyo,…
MADRID.-In a coup that falls again on the Spanish president Pedro Sánchez, on Thursday began the first hearing of the trial of his brother David, accused of “traffic of influence”, after alleged irregularities in the award to him of a position in the Diputación de Badajoz. The trial of David Sánchez, which will extend until June 10, begins the day after the Civil Guard searched for hours the headquarters of the socialists looking for documentati…
The judicial case against David Sánchez, the brother of the Spanish Prime Minister, shakes the political scene. Suspected of having obtained a tailor-made post in Badajoz, he denounces a procedure of a political nature.
In the program hosted by Javier López and produced by Jorge Patón, we'll be joined by former PP deputy Mario Garcés, S'ha Acabat spokesperson Noé Benavent, and political analyst Víctor Sánchez del Real to analyze all the current events of Thursday, May 28, 2026. Read more
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