Witnesses in Court Case Against Pedro Sánchez’s Brother Dispute Key Accusation. During the trial concerning the appointment of Pedro Sánchez’s brother to a post in Badajoz, key witnesses stated that the allegations were based on rumors. Their testimony challenged the narrative of bias and misconduct.
During the trial in Badajoz regarding the appointment of David Sánchez, brother of the Spanish Prime Minister, to a leadership position at the local conservatory, key witnesses challenged one of the main arguments of the prosecution. As revealed during the hearings, the reference to “hermanísimo” in official correspondence, cited by the prosecution’s lawyers, turned out not to be a proven fact but merely the retelling of a rumor.
Three former and current directors of two Badajoz conservatories testified in court that they have no knowledge of any bias in the appointment of David Sánchez. One of them, Evaristo Valenti, confirmed that he wrote the email with the subject “hermanísimo,” but explained that it referred to a rumor, the source of which he does not recall. According to him, Sánchez's surname was discussed among possible candidates, but there was no concrete evidence that the appointment was predetermined.
Judge José Antonio Patrocinio emphasized during the session that the court is not interested in rumors or speculation, only facts. Valenti’s email was sent on the same day the terms of the competition for the conservatory coordinator position were published, when the official candidates were not yet known. In the body of the email, aside from the subject line, there were no mentions of David Sánchez.
Yolanda Sánchez, the recipient of the email, stated that she first heard about Pedro Sánchez’s brother from Valenti and did not attach any importance to the subject of the email. She also does not recall paying attention to the use of “hermanísimo” at the time.
María Rosario Mayoral, who succeeded Valente as director, said she first heard about Sánchez's appointment as a 'done deal' only in the hallways, after he had already started the job. According to her, David Sánchez fulfilled his duties, was available to colleagues, and participated in the orchestra's activities and the selection of repertoire. Other witnesses confirmed these statements, contradicting the allegations that he was systematically absent from work.
David Sánchez left his position on February 5, 2025, when he was already under investigation. There is now someone else in this role.
According to RUSSPAIN, the appointment of the Prime Minister's brother sparked widespread public controversy due to suspicions of a possible conflict of interest and abuse of office. However, witness testimonies in court indicate a lack of direct evidence of pressure or procedural violations. In Spain, transparency in public appointments is regularly subject to public and judicial scrutiny, especially when it concerns relatives of senior officials.
