Madrid, July 1, (dpa/GNA) – Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro SĂĄnchez, is under increasing pressure in a corruption scandal, involving his party.
On Monday, a Spanish judge ordered Santos CerdĂĄn, the former number three in the ruling left-wing party and a member of parliament, to be remanded in custody.
The 56-year-old is suspected of membership of a criminal organization, bribery and influence peddling, the judicial press office said on its website after CerdĂĄn was questioned.
The possibility of avoiding detention by posting bail was rejected. CerdĂĄn denies the allegations. He sees himself as the victim of a conspiracy.
Various corruption scandals have been plaguing SĂĄnchez’s minority government for some time. Amongst those under investigation are former transport minister, JosĂ© Luis Ăbalos, SĂĄnchez’s wife Begoña, the head of government’s brother David SĂĄnchez, and possibly soon also Justice Minister FĂ©lix Bolaños.
SĂĄnchez had addressed the public contritely, after the allegations against CerdĂĄn became known in early June.
“I apologize to the citizens,” he said, visibly shaken. The new revelations filled him with “great indignation and deep sadness.”
He announced an external audit of the finances of his Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and a restructuring of the party’s executive.
GNA