Pressure Grows on Spain’s Leader After Police Search His Party Office
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is under increasing pressure to call early elections following a police raid on the Socialist Party headquarters investigating alleged illicit funding of a smear campaign against judges.
- Judge Santiago Pedraz accused the Socialist Party of maintaining a de facto criminal organization, prompting a 12-hour police search related to cases involving the government and Sánchez’s family.
- Sánchez and the Socialist Party pledged full cooperation with authorities, noting that key figures implicated had been expelled from the party over a year ago.
- The scandal intensifies a domestic crisis for Sánchez, who has tried to distance himself from corruption allegations while enhancing his international profile through criticism of Iran and the Trump administration and engagement with the Vatican.