Pedro Sánchez denies structural corruption in the PSOE and admits that he planned to resign after the Koldo case

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, said on Monday, in an interview with RTVE, that there has been no "structural corruption" or irregular funding in the PSOE. Asked about the cases that have splashed the executive and the party, he said that his government and he "have never" admitted any corruption cases and stressed: "When there has been any indication, I have acted ruthlessly."

With regard to the recordings of the Koldo case, in which José Luis Ábalos, Koldo García and Santos Cerdán are involved, Sánchez has described them as "regrettable" and "disgusting" and has acknowledged that they have affected him "personally" to the point of thinking of resigning. However, he has stressed that he decided to continue: "It is not my responsibility to leave the ship, but to make decisions, however hard they may be."

With regard to the expulsion of Ábalos from the Government in 2021, he recalled that it was not an isolated relay, but part of a broader reshuffle after the pandemic: "It was necessary to regain political momentum in the face of the wear and tear of the Council of Ministers."

Sánchez has defended the PSOE's conduct in cases that have affected the party, reiterated that they have acted with "proportionality" and given a "firm" response that other parties have not offered.

It also reiterates its confidence in the innocence of the Attorney-General of the State and stresses that "there is no evidence to justify proceedings against him".

The Spanish President also referred to the investigations that have affected his wife, Begoña Gomez, and his brother, David Sanchez. "This is due to false accusations, press clippings and ultra-right-wing organizations. I defend their honesty and innocence, I will always defend them," he said.

Although he has said that he trusts in justice and that most judges "have done their job well and comply with the law," he has warned that "some judges have not." There is a problem of activity, an investigation, a problem of punishment on the news, and in the end two people have paid to have my relatives, "he has denounced.

The Chief Executive has gone further and said, "There have been judges who have tried to do justice, and politicians who have certainly tried to do justice. They are a minority, but they have done immense harm to justice."

The dialogue has begun with the forest fire emergency. Sánchez has argued that the government has acted "quickly" and mobilized resources, including EMU. However, he has warned that Spain is experiencing a "new paradigm" marked by the climate crisis. "The climate emergency has exceeded all the forecasts of scientists. We need a grand state pact to turn prevention, response and reconstruction measures into a state policy."