On Monday, representatives of the Partido Popular (PP) announced their intention to summon Francisco Salazar to testify before the Senate investigative committee on the Koldo case. Salazar, a close associate of Pedro Sánchez since 2017, came under scrutiny after several women came forward with allegations of harassment by the Andalusian politician in the summer of 2025.
Alicia García, the official PP spokesperson in the upper chamber, released a video message accusing Sánchez of trying to conceal details of the incident. According to her, the prime minister is protecting Salazar because he possesses inside information about the party’s inner workings, including details of the primaries and the so-called “Peugeot Gang”—a group that also included Ábalos, Cerdán, and Koldo.
Allegations and reaction
García emphasized that Salazar was an integral part of Sánchez’s team during the party’s internal elections. According to her, this group controlled key decisions and processes related to Sánchez’s bid for party leadership. She also recalled that Sánchez’s book “Manual de resistencia” mentions that only three people—Cerdán, Salazar, and Sánchez himself—knew the exact number of signatures supporting the candidate, while Koldo was responsible for keeping them.
PP officials believe that this is not simply an internal scandal but a symptom of systemic issues in the country’s leadership. In García’s view, the actions of Sánchez and his inner circle suggest attempts to cover up the case and avoid public scrutiny.
Government response
In an informal conversation with journalists, Pedro Sánchez acknowledged personal responsibility for the party’s failure to contact Salazar’s victims immediately after the first complaints emerged. He noted that two women had officially filed statements through a special channel, but admitted the leadership’s response was delayed.
In an attempt to contain the situation, Sánchez dismissed Antonio Hernández, considered Salazar’s closest associate and responsible for analytics and strategy at the La Moncloa complex. However, representatives of the PP viewed this as an attempt to cover up the scandal, stating that the dismissal came too late and failed to address the core issue.
Next steps
The PP is insisting on a thorough investigation and is demanding that Salazar testify before the Senate commission on the Koldo case, where the party holds an absolute majority. According to García, the party is not prepared to close the case without a full inquiry and will seek accountability for everyone involved.
The Koldo commission was formed in April 2024 following the launch of Operation Delorme, initiated by prosecutors to investigate possible irregularities in contracts worth 53 million euros. The probe focused on the purchase of masks at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when several companies received substantial government contracts.
Scandal background
The scandal surrounding Salazar has dealt a fresh blow to the reputation of the government and Pedro Sánchez personally. Internal party conflicts and allegations of corruption, now compounded by accusations of covering up harassment cases, have increased pressure on the country’s leadership. Public dissatisfaction is growing over how the authorities handle such incidents, while the opposition seizes the moment to ramp up criticism of the current cabinet.
Meanwhile, Sánchez’s supporters argue that the investigation should be conducted within the framework of the law and free from political manipulation. They insist on an objective review of all circumstances and protection of the rights of everyone involved.
In case you didn’t know, Francisco Salazar is one of the country’s key political strategists, who has long worked on Pedro Sánchez’s team. His name has repeatedly come up in connection with major intra-party decisions and election campaigns. After allegations of harassment emerged, his role in national politics has been called into question, and he has become a focus of intense scrutiny by both the media and the opposition.
