For almost a year and a half, the question loomed: when would the Socialist leader find himself at the center of the Senate investigation into the high-profile Koldo case? Suddenly, contrary to previous statements, Alberto Núñez Feijóo decided to take this step. As early as October, Pedro Sánchez will have to appear before the Senate, where he will face tough questions and intense scrutiny from the opposition.
Within the People’s Party itself, the decision came as a surprise even to many senators. Some fear that the expectations for Sánchez’s hearing might be excessively high. In the corridors, people are debating whether the Prime Minister will withstand the pressure and whether this could trigger new political upheavals.
Why now? For a long time, the People’s Party delayed summoning Sánchez, citing the need to gather more evidence. However, in recent months, the situation has changed: following new information about possible financial irregularities involving former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and mounting pressure from Vox, Feijóo decided to act. Party members admit that the growing popularity of their rivals forced them to speed things up, so as not to appear indecisive to voters.
Earlier this week, the Senate announced that several key figures from the Socialist leadership would be summoned, but Sánchez’s name was not on the list until the last moment. This changed after a report was published on suspicious spending by Ábalos, who was unable to explain the origin of a significant sum of money. The People’s Party is confident this is only the beginning, and that more revelations concerning other high-ranking officials will surface soon.
Sánchez is expected to appear before the Senate at the end of October, after testimonies are given by Ábalos and Koldo. This is intended to create a dramatic sequence of events and keep public attention focused on the government corruption issue. Additionally, the date coincides with the anniversary of a tragedy that claimed hundreds of lives, which could further amplify public response.
If Sánchez does attend the hearings, he will become only the second sitting head of government to personally participate in a parliamentary investigation. Before him, only José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero faced such an inquiry in 2004. Other national leaders have given testimony only after leaving office.
In the coming weeks, new reports are expected to be released that could implicate several other prominent politicians. The People’s Party hopes this will help them maintain momentum and prevent Vox from seizing the agenda. A tense political autumn lies ahead, with high stakes for all parties involved.
