Spanish President Pedro Sánchez appeared before the Congress of the Deputies on June 24, 2026, to address corruption cases affecting the PSOE [1].
The appearance comes as the Spanish government faces intensifying pressure to explain why an anti-corruption plan presented one year ago [3] has yet to produce approved measures. The hearing follows the conviction of former minister José Luis Ábalos, which occurred two days before the session [2].
Sánchez defended his administration's integrity and said the opposition is attempting to "create a sensation of generalized corruption" [2]. During the proceedings, he also touched upon personal grievances, saying that some parties "harass my wife and protect González Amador" [2].
Opposition leaders used the session to challenge the president's leadership. Alberto Núñez Feijóo said, "He is making fun of his partners and of course I will give him lessons" [2]. The clash highlighted deep divisions over the handling of judicial probes into party members.
Despite the criticism, Sánchez discarded the possibility of calling for early elections [2]. He said the government remains committed to its legislative agenda despite the legal challenges facing individual members of the PSOE [1].
Reports differed on the nature of the appearance. Some sources said the session was requested by the opposition [2], while others indicated Sánchez appeared at his own request [2].
“"Create a sensation of generalized corruption"”
The hearing reflects a critical juncture for the PSOE government, where the gap between promised anti-corruption reforms and judicial reality is becoming a primary political liability. By dismissing the need for early elections, Sánchez is betting that he can weather the legal storms surrounding his ministers and the personal scrutiny of his family without losing his parliamentary majority.
