Court in Badajoz Drops Some Charges Against Pedro Sánchez's Brother. A court in Badajoz has dropped the charge of illegal appointment against the prime minister's brother in the ongoing case. More serious charges remain in place. The decision also affects the former head of the Diputación.
In Badajoz, the court dismissed the charge of illegal acceptance of office against David Sánchez, the brother of the head of government, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. This decision was made as part of proceedings regarding alleged irregularities during the creation and transfer of a leadership position to him at the Diputación de Badajoz in 2017. The court also dropped the charge against former Diputación leader Miguel Ángel Gallardo related to the appointment of Sánchez's friend, as the latter had not been questioned as a suspect regarding this matter.
As a result, only two charges remain on trial: influence peddling and administrative abuse. David Sánchez still faces up to three years in prison, and Gallardo up to one and a half years, but now only in connection with Sánchez's own appointment. Nine more individuals are involved in the case as possible accomplices on the same charges.
The judges rejected the defense motions to declare the investigation invalid. As noted by russpain.com, prosecutors had previously requested the dismissal of the charge against Sánchez for illegal appointment, considering it minor and not warranting real prison time. During the hearings, the presiding judge officially announced the statute of limitations had expired for this part of the case.
The case is ongoing at the Audiencia Provincial de Badajoz. After addressing preliminary matters, the court proceeded to witness testimonies. Public attention to the proceedings is heightened because the defendants include a relative of the current prime minister and a former head of the Diputación. Amid this case, pressure on the ruling party has increased, as reflected in other high-profile investigations — for instance, the situation with searches at the PSOE headquarters, which was previously reported in the article on Pedro Sánchez's address amid pressure from investigations into the PSOE.
For reference: The Diputación de Badajoz is the main governing body of the province, responsible for allocating budget funds and human resource policy. In Spain, cases involving influence peddling and abuse of authority often attract public attention, especially when they involve high-ranking officials or their relatives. The outcomes of such proceedings can impact the perception of government transparency and the functioning of regional institutions.
