A judge at the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s federal court, is considering bringing charges against the governing Socialist Party (PSOE) as a criminal organisation. Such an indictment could lead to the party being dissolved.
Judge Santiago Pedraz is investigating whether the Socialist Party (PSOE), in its capacity as a legal entity, can be held liable for the “dirty tricks” network that is alleged to have worked systematically to obstruct and undermine judicial investigations into the government and leading party members through character assassination, discrediting campaigns and leaks. In addition, there are allegations of sabotage directed at judges, prosecutors and police.
– Made party resources available for criminal activity
According to court documents, PSOE is alleged to have paid the network to dig up compromising material on individuals investigating cases linked to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, his wife Begoña Gómez and other senior party figures.
Judge Pedraz believes there are clear indications that the party leadership, including former Organisation Secretary Santos Cerdán, made party premises and resources available for criminal activity. Several high-ranking PSOE members have been charged or are under investigation in related cases.
Nok en episode i Spanias korrupsjonsbølge: Politirazzia i sosialistpartiets hovedkvarter
If the court formally indicts PSOE as a legal entity, this opens the way for severe sanctions, including dissolution of the party, substantial fines and the withdrawal of public funding. The dissolution of a governing party in this manner would, if it occurs, be unprecedented in modern European history.
PSOE rejects all allegations and dismisses the investigation as politically motivated. The party claims that the Right is using the courts as a weapon to bring down the government.
According to various opinion polls, the corruption allegations have weakened PSOE by three to five percentage points in just the past few weeks.