Spanish Supreme Court Jails Socialist Official in Major Corruption Probe

Santos Cerdán, a former senior official and close ally of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been ordered to pre-trial detention without bail by Supreme Court judge Leopoldo Puente amid a major corruption investigation. Cerdán faces serious charges including leading a criminal organization involved in rigging public works contracts to collect kickbacks, alongside former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos and aide Koldo García. The investigation centers on allegations of bribery, influence peddling, and improper awarding of contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros, with the possibility that others within the Socialist Party benefitted. Judge Puente cited strong evidence including multi-year recordings seized from García's home, and expressed concerns that Cerdán might destroy evidence or flee if released. Prime Minister Sánchez has defended his party's handling of the scandal, emphasizing the importance of judicial determination while acknowledging the political damage and pressure mounting on his minority government. The case marks a significant escalation in corruption probes threatening to destabilize Sánchez's administration and prompt calls for snap elections.