The Spanish Senate witnessed real drama surrounding the former organizational secretary of the Socialist Party, Santos Cerdán. His testimony in the Koldo case (caso Koldo) became one of the week’s most talked-about events. Faced with audio recordings, contracts, and police reports, Cerdán repeatedly claimed he had no understanding of the accusations against him. Even when shown documents bearing his signature and photographs, he denied any involvement in what had transpired.
Throughout the hearings, Cerdán appeared to be hearing about his own actions for the first time. His responses to senators’ questions and those from the judiciary were evasive, at times even absurd. He insisted he didn’t understand why he had been summoned and maintained the questions should be directed to someone else. This stance puzzled those present and sparked a wave of ironic commentary in the press.
A Lost Identity
Journalists compared Cerdán’s behavior to characters in the works of Oliver Sacks, where people lose connection with their own identity. This time, observers noted, the former PSOE secretary did not recognize himself in the recordings, documents, or newspaper headlines. His attempts to distance himself from the charges looked like a peculiar defense mechanism, bordering on denial of reality.
Particular attention was drawn to Serdán’s defense strategy. He insisted that all the accusations were based solely on audio recordings, which he claimed were fabricated. However, he provided no convincing evidence of his innocence. At one point, his statements took on an almost grotesque tone: he spoke of a supposed ‘deep state conspiracy’ allegedly behind the accusations against him.
Role in the party
When Serdán did admit to involvement in certain episodes, he tried to portray himself as a key player in political processes. He claimed that it was thanks to his efforts that the coalition government was preserved and important agreements with other parties were reached. However, observers noted that his role seemed more like that of someone following instructions than an architect of political decisions.
This image of Serdán—not as a strategist, but as a ‘soldier’ following orders—explains why the party is now trying to distance itself from him. His public exposure has become inconvenient for the PSOE leadership, and many prefer not to be associated with someone who could become a source of new scandals.
Silence in the Senate
During the hearings, the restraint of the Socialist party representatives was particularly noticeable. The senator who was supposed to question Serdán chose to remain silent, which seemed like an attempt to avoid unnecessary complications. Behind the scenes, people remarked that Serdán is now seen as a ‘human bomb,’ and no one wants to be around when he might explode.
This entire story has become a striking example of how political figures try to avoid responsibility, even when the evidence appears irrefutable. The Senate drama surrounding Serdán and the Koldo case is sure to be discussed in Spanish society for a long time to come.
