Sánchez denies links with those arrested in the 'Koldo case' and demands answers from Feijóo for the alleged payment of one million euros by the PP: "He should give some explanation"

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, appeared this Thursday before the media in the Gallery of the Royal Collections in Madrid, after the closing of the XXX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government. During the press conference, the head of the Executive answered questions about the new arrests by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard within the framework of the 'Koldo case', as well as about the recent resignation of Óscar Puente as Minister of Transport.

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has rejected any link with the people arrested this Thursday by the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard within the framework of the 'Koldo case'. "None of these people have anything to do with me," he assured during the press conference after the closing of the XXX Ibero-American Summit, held in Madrid. Among those arrested is Cristian Corvillo, a businessman and socialist militant who has been identified as the man who drove Sánchez's vehicle during the PSOE primaries in 2017, when the current president sought to regain the party's General Secretariat. The socialist leader wanted to distance himself from this figure and the rest of the people involved in the new operation.

Sánchez has also downplayed the novelty of the judicial actions and recalled that the investigation has been underway for several years. "It seems that it is nothing new," he stated, before insisting that the Executive maintains its willingness to collaborate with the investigators. "We have stated it from the beginning, total collaboration with Justice," added the president, who made these statements after the UCO carried out six arrests and conducted different actions in several Spanish provinces.

The president asks Feijóo for explanations regarding Koldo García's accusations against the PP

During the same press conference, Pedro Sánchez also referred to the accusations made by former ministerial advisor Koldo García against the Popular Party. The President of the Government has demanded that the leader of the popular party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, provide explanations after García claimed that the PP's lawyer had offered him one million euros in exchange for information against the Executive.

"Given these very serious accusations, Feijóo should give some explanation," said Sánchez, who compared the situation to the usual demands for accountability that, according to the Government, the PP directs at the PSOE. Furthermore, the PSOE is studying taking legal action to investigate what happened, according to socialist sources. The party believes that the accusations require a response and demands that Feijóo speak out personally.

For their part, sources from the PP have described Koldo García's statements as "absolutely false". The Executive believes that the seriousness of the accusations requires clarification from the popular leadership, understanding that an attempt was being made to obtain information against the Government through a person under judicial investigation.

Who are those arrested by the UCO in the new operation of the 'Koldo case'?

The new Civil Guard operation is part of a separate and secret piece of the 'Koldo case', opened by the National Court judge Ismael Moreno after receiving a report from the UCO. The actions have included searches in Madrid, Valencia, Córdoba and Seville, as well as requests for information from Adif and the construction company Azvi. Among the six detainees are Cristian Corvillo and Andrea de la Torre, partner of former Minister of Transport José Luis Ábalos. Rubén Corvillo, Cristian's brother, has also been arrested, along with other businessmen.

The investigation seeks to clarify possible irregularities related to public works contracts and other operations. According to the information known so far, investigators are examining possible crimes of criminal organization, money laundering, and influence peddling. In the case of Cristian Corvillo, his name had already appeared in previous reports related to businessman Víctor de Aldama and the circle of former minister Ábalos. Corvillo himself admitted to the judge that he had met with Ábalos and had maintained business ties with Aldama and his circle, although he assured that the businesses did not materialize.

However, his alleged status as Sánchez's driver has been the subject of contradictory versions. While some reports place him at the wheel of the vehicle used by the president during the 2017 primaries, sources from the PSOE and the Government have denied that he was a driver for Sánchez or the party.

Sánchez also comments on Óscar Puente's departure

During the same appearance, the President of the Government was also asked about Óscar Puente's resignation as Minister of Transport, a decision that the former minister announced after the Urda railway tragedy.

In his speech, Sánchez highlighted that Puente has been "from the first minute with the victims of the accident", referring to the attention provided after the incident. The minister's departure comes at a time marked by the consequences of the accident and criticism of the management of the railway crisis.

After his departure, the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, will temporarily assume the responsibilities of Transport, while the Government reorganizes the department's leadership.