Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has found himself at the center of a political storm. His party is grappling with scandals involving corruption and allegations of sexual harassment. Despite the turmoil, the head of government is not backing down and is already preparing new measures to revitalize parliament. His goal is to restore voters’ trust and prove that even in times of crisis, it is possible to move forward.
Sánchez is forced to prove his ability to govern the country on a daily basis. This is particularly important to progressive supporters and members of the Socialist Party (PSOE). In recent months, he has faced criticism for a slow response to allegations against fellow party members. What began as accusations of corruption has now expanded to include instances of misconduct and harassment among party officials. Internal tensions are rising, but the government insists: this is not the end of the political cycle.
Social initiatives
Pedro Sánchez is betting on social reforms and economic support. He plans to propose new measures to parliament that can win approval from the majority of lawmakers. He is backed not only by members of his own party, but also by coalition partners from the Sumar movement. However, Sumar leader Yolanda Díaz is pushing for more radical steps than those put forward by the government.
The main focus of the discussion is on healthcare and housing policy. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez has been negotiating with developers and builders for several months in an effort to increase the supply of affordable housing. Despite disagreements with regional authorities and coalition partners, the ministry is pressing ahead with its strategy. Sumar is calling for stricter rent regulations to make housing more accessible for millions of Spaniards. Government officials acknowledge there are disagreements, but say dialogue is ongoing.
Internal party conflicts
Alongside reform debates, the party is facing fresh accusations of corruption. Recent statements by former minister José Luis Ábalos have sparked outrage and raised questions about Sánchez’s actions. This comes on top of complaints over party leadership’s inaction in cases of sexual harassment. Sánchez has publicly apologized for the situation involving Francisco Salazar, one of his closest allies, who has been accused of inappropriate behavior toward female staff members.
The prime minister explains the delay in processing complaints by noting that the internal investigative body was only recently established. He promises to speed up the handling of all reports and to prevent similar incidents in the future. However, critics point out that the party’s internal protections allowed Salazar to avoid accountability for several months after the initial claims emerged.
Reaction and consequences
Internal conflicts are not limited to the capital. New complaints about the behavior of local Socialist leaders are surfacing in different regions of the country. For example, a case of harassment involving a party official is also being investigated in Torremolinos. Former Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo notes that authoritarian and male-dominated leadership traits are reappearing within the party. She emphasizes that she personally informed the leadership about Ábalos’s conduct, but the legal proceedings against him are unrelated to these allegations.
Despite internal turmoil, the Socialists continue to defend their achievements in promoting equality and women’s rights. The party acknowledges that the situation is difficult but insists that efforts toward reform and fighting discrimination will not stop. At the same time, the opposition and segments of the public are demanding stronger action and greater transparency in investigating all incidents.
The future of the coalition
The coalition government is facing pressure not only from the opposition but also from its own allies. Sumar and Podemos are calling for faster reforms and tougher measures against corruption and discrimination. In response, Sánchez has pledged to stay the course and continue dialogue with all participants in the political process.
In the coming weeks, parliament is set to consider a number of key initiatives aimed at improving social welfare and increasing access to housing. The government is confident that, despite disagreements, most lawmakers will support the proposed measures. However, political instability and internal scandals could affect the pace of reform implementation.
In case you didn’t know, Pedro Sánchez has served as Prime Minister of Spain since 2018 and is the Secretary General of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). Throughout his tenure, he has faced multiple political crises and internal conflicts, yet he continues to pursue a policy of social reform. Sánchez is known as a proponent of progressive change and an active participant in European politics. His government is formed through a coalition with left-wing parties, including Sumar and Podemos.
