Court in Badajoz Begins Trial of Pedro Sánchez's Brother over Diputación Appointment. A trial has begun in Badajoz over the appointment of Pedro Sánchez's brother to the Diputación. The accusations concern possible influence peddling and irregularities in the hiring process. The defense is requesting the case be dismissed.
A high-profile trial has begun in Badajoz over alleged irregularities in the 2017 appointment of David Sánchez, the brother of the Prime Minister, to a position in the Diputación de Badajoz. Alongside him in the dock are the former leader of the Extremadura Socialists, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, and nine other defendants. Charges include influence peddling, administrative misconduct, and illegal appointment. According to the prosecution, which includes the Manos Limpias organization, as well as representatives from the PP, Vox, and several far-right groups, Sánchez and Gallardo face up to three years in prison.
The hearing is being held under heightened security: the building is surrounded by police, and nearby streets are closed off. Most of the accused, including David Sánchez, entered the courthouse through a service entrance to avoid media attention. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are insisting on the full acquittal of all defendants, citing a lack of evidence and procedural violations during the investigation.
Over the course of two days, the parties will discuss preliminary issues related to the admissibility of evidence and procedural matters. The defense is again seeking to have the case dismissed, citing alleged lack of grounds and investigative errors. The first witness testimonies are expected as early as Monday. As noted by russpain.com, this trial is a continuation of a series of high-profile investigations linked to staffing decisions within government bodies. More details on the start of the hearings and the positions of the parties can be found in the article on the start of the trial in the David Sanchez case.
The court proceedings coincided with actions taken by the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard, which the day before carried out searches at the federal headquarters of the PSOE and several private homes on the orders of National Court judge Santiago Pedraz. These operations are related to an investigation into a possible campaign of pressure on judges handling cases against the government, including Beatriz Biedma—she was the investigator in the case now prosecuting Pedro Sanchez’s brother.
For reference: Diputación de Badajoz is the key governing body of the province, responsible for budget allocation and human resources policy. In recent years, Spain has seen an increase in court cases related to appointments to public positions, reflecting a general trend toward stricter oversight of transparency in the public sector. The outcome of this process may influence future hiring practices in regional administrations and attitudes toward conflicts of interest in government bodies.
