It was supposed to be the big “Sánchez brother scandal” Monday. In the end, the court in the western Spanish city of Badajoz dropped one of the charges against David Sánchez on the grounds that it was time‑barred – but the trial against the prime minister’s brother continues over alleged abuse of office and influence‑peddling.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
What the court decided
The Provincial Court of Badajoz has been hearing the case since the end of May, focusing on the hiring of David Sánchez by the provincial administration back in 2017. The judges have now ruled that the charge of “accepting an unlawful appointment” – in simple terms, taking up a post that was not lawfully created or filled – has become statute‑barred and can therefore no longer be tried.
At the same time, two other charges remain on the table: alleged abuse of office (in Spanish criminal law: prevaricación) and influence‑peddling or obtaining advantages through political connections (tráfico de influencias). For David Sánchez and ten other defendants this means the trial goes on – albeit with somewhat less explosive potential than originally announced.
The remaining charges: abuse of office and influence‑peddling
To understand the case, it is key to know what these two remaining offences are about:
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Abuse of office (prevaricación): This refers to a public official knowingly taking a decision that is unlawful or manifestly unjust – for example in a tender, a recruitment process or the awarding of a contract.
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Influence‑peddling (tráfico de influencias): Here the allegation is that someone uses their political contacts or their position to steer administrative decisions in their own favour or in favour of third parties.
Investigators are looking into whether the post that David Sánchez obtained in the province of Badajoz was tailor‑made for him and whether political connections played a role in the process. Spanish and international media report that, at least for now, the hearings are scheduled to run until early June.
Why the case is so politically charged
The trial hits the government at a time when several cases involving figures close to the Socialist Party (PSOE) are already making headlines. The fact that it is now the prime minister’s own brother in the dock reinforces, at least in the narrative of the opposition, the impression of a broader “corruption wave”.
Right‑wing and far‑right forces are using the affair to push the idea of a “Sánchez system” in which friends and relatives allegedly obtain posts thanks to their connections. The government and the PSOE, for their part, are keen to stress that the judiciary acts independently – and that there is, as yet, neither a verdict nor a conviction in this case.
