Former Secretary of Organization for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), Santos Cerdán, found himself back in the spotlight following his appearance in the Senate. At the hearing of the Koldo Commission, where he was summoned by representatives of the People’s Party (PP), Cerdán invoked his right not to testify. He stressed that he has no connection to any corruption scheme and was not the organizer of any illegal activities.
Cerdán stated that he was only willing to discuss the political context in which the investigation emerged. He read excerpts from a court ruling by Judge Leopoldo Puente, which he said highlighted a direct persecution of a deputy, restricting basic rights without clear justification. According to Cerdán, these events are more reminiscent of Inquisition tactics than modern justice.
Criticism of the investigation
During his remarks, Cerdán pointed out that the investigation is not focused on uncovering a specific crime, but is instead targeting several individuals with parliamentary immunity. He accused the commission of lacking safeguards and claimed that no one is interested in finding the truth. According to him, the police’s hypothesis was elevated to the status of a proven fact without real evidence.
This is the second time Serdán has appeared in the same Senate chamber—he previously gave explanations in April last year. Then, too, he denied any legal responsibility for the alleged corruption scheme, claimed that Koldo García was not his protégé, and suggested that former minister José Luis Ábalos could return to the party if he was not brought to trial.
Doubts about the evidence
Serdán focused in particular on the audio recordings that form the basis of the accusations. He called them a ‘fabrication’ and referred to an expert analysis presented to the Supreme Court, which stated that the recordings were created using technologies that did not exist at the time they were allegedly made. According to him, experts from the Guardia Civil could not confirm the authenticity of the audio files and did not even rule out the possibility that they were produced with artificial intelligence.
He also pointed out that the audio recordings, a key element in the case, were found under unclear circumstances almost two years ago. Serdán maintains that as the materials are examined, it becomes increasingly evident that the recordings are fake. He emphasized that experts cannot vouch for their authenticity, and that the software used appeared only two years after the supposed recording date.
Responses to the allegations
During the session, UPN senator María Mar Caballero asked Serdán whether he intended to apologize and whether he felt abandoned by his party, since he came to the hearing without support from other socialists. Serdán replied that he didn’t need anyone’s support and preferred to be alone rather than in bad company. He added that if the truth prevails, it will be his opponents who have to apologize.
Serdán also stated that he didn’t handle a single euro during the primaries when Pedro Sánchez became PSOE’s Secretary General, and emphasized the legitimacy of the entire process. He reiterated that he had no involvement in corruption schemes and was not Koldo García’s mentor.
Questions over motives
Senator from the Canary Islands Coalition, Pedro Manuel Sanginés, asked who might benefit from possible tampering with audio recordings. Serdán called this an important question and suggested the commission find out who is behind it. He again pointed out that it is impossible to create a 2019 recording using a program that only appeared in 2021, and experts do not rule out the involvement of artificial intelligence.
