Spain PM Sánchez Announces Anti-Corruption Measures Amid Graft Scandal

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a comprehensive 15-point anti-corruption plan developed with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to restore confidence amid a corruption scandal involving senior Socialist Party figures. The measures include creating an independent public integrity agency, enhancing transparency in political financing, employing artificial intelligence to monitor public procurement, protecting whistleblowers, and imposing stricter penalties for corruption offenses. Despite the scandal implicating close allies such as former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos and Santos Cerdán, who deny wrongdoing, Sánchez took responsibility for poor judgment but refused to resign, asserting his commitment to continue leading. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo criticized Sánchez, calling for early elections and greater accountability. The scandal has put the viability of Sánchez's leftist minority coalition into question, especially given ongoing investigations involving Sánchez’s family members and former officials. Sánchez emphasized that existing anti-corruption mechanisms were insufficient and vowed to strengthen institutional integrity through these new reforms.