The recent conviction of David Sánchez, brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has prompted a wave of internal mobilization within the PSOE. The Audiencia Provincial de Badajoz sentenced him to nine years of special disqualification for his participation as a necessary accomplice in an administrative-prevarication offense linked to his recruitment by the provincial government. The sentence carries no prison term and also bars him from standing for elected office during the specified period. The ruling is not final: both Sánchez’s defense and the Public Prosecutor’s Office have sought acquittal, and the judgment may be reviewed by the High Court of Justice of Extremadura and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.
The court’s findings concerned a post created in 2017, initially associated with coordinating two conservatories and later adapted to Sánchez’s professional circumstances. A subsequent clarification by the provincial court said the disqualification would bar him from public employment or office generally if the conviction becomes enforceable, but would not prevent private-sector work. The decision has affected the prime minister personally and stirred impressive political debate. Senior party figures argue that ongoing judicial cases involving the prime minister’s family are fueling anger among the party base and could ultimately have the opposite effect intended by their political opponents.
Influential voices within La Moncloa increasingly view the legal proceedings involving Pedro Sánchez’s relatives as personal attacks rather than genuine corruption scandals. They say this perception is strengthening the resolve of PSOE supporters, especially as the party faces court cases involving various socialist leaders. The recent ruling has further inflamed the party’s grassroots, particularly after Judge Juan Carlos Peinado imposed travel restrictions on Begoña Gómez, the prime minister’s wife, citing flight-risk concerns. Gómez responded by submitting travel documents for her planned trip to London for her daughter’s graduation.
Party officials note a growing distinction among progressive voters between cases involving the president’s family and those linked to figures such as José Luis Ábalos and Santos Cerdán. While Ábalos faced a 24-year sentence for corruption, cases involving Sánchez’s family are viewed by some within the party as politically motivated. One senior PSOE strategist said each new judicial action against the president’s relatives increases indignation and activism among supporters, a trend not seen in previous months.
The verdict from the Audiencia Provincial de Badajoz prompted varied but coordinated responses from PSOE leadership. Transport Minister Óscar Puente was among the first to react, criticizing the ruling as an attempt to undermine the government through the courts rather than at the ballot box. In Extremadura, regional secretary Álvaro Sánchez Cotrina addressed the media shortly after the verdict, expressing respect for judicial decisions while maintaining confidence in the innocence of those convicted. Several regional leaders echoed his emphasis on due process.
The judgment also convicted Miguel Ángel Gallardo, former president of the Diputación de Badajoz and former secretary-general of the PSOE in Extremadura, of two administrative-prevarication offenses. He received two nine-year disqualification penalties, totaling 18 years. The court reportedly concluded that the post lacked a genuine public-service need and had been shaped around a particular beneficiary rather than the general interest. Those penalties, like Sánchez’s sentence, remain subject to appeal.
Despite the strong reactions, PSOE leaders have avoided using the term “lawfare” to describe the situation. Still, belief within the party that the judiciary is being used for political purposes has become widespread. Equality Minister Ana Redondo cited a recent 40dB. poll for EL PAÍS and Cadena SER, which found that more than 65% of Spaniards believe the justice system is being used for political purposes. Redondo said little concrete evidence had been found against David Sánchez and argued that decisions of this kind reinforce perceptions of judicial partiality. Finance Minister Arcadi España also highlighted the lack of proof in the case, noting that the prosecution had called for acquittal and expressing confidence that higher courts would overturn the conviction.
The court found irregularities in the handling of the post but did not establish that Pedro Sánchez or his brother exerted specific pressure on officials or used their family relationship to influence them. The judgment concerns David Sánchez’s alleged participation in the administrative-prevarication offense, not liability arising simply from being the prime minister’s brother. Pedro Sánchez defended his brother, saying, “He is being convicted because he is the brother of the president of the Government.” The case dates back to a period when David Sánchez was politically isolated after losing his role as party secretary-general. The PSOE’s internal response has been to express respect for the judiciary while insisting on the innocence of those involved and preparing for further appeals.
Spain has seen a series of high-profile judicial cases involving political figures in recent years, often prompting debate about judicial independence and the boundaries between legal and political accountability. The current dispute highlights tensions between the country’s basic parties and the courts, with potential implications for public trust in both institutions. As the legal process continues, the PSOE’s strategy appears focused on channeling internal frustration into political momentum while navigating the sensitive relationship between politics and the justice system.
