Pedro Sánchez learned in Paris of the nine-year disqualification sentence imposed on his brother David and returns to national politics with a new judicial day for the PSOE. Cristina Narbona testifies this Wednesday as a witness before Judge Santiago Pedraz for her conversations with Leire Díez, while the socialist manager, Ana María Fuentes, must appear as investigated on September 9.
The three matters belong to different procedures and have a different procedural scope. David Sánchez has received a sentence that can still be appealed. Narbona appears before the Audiencia Nacional solely as a witness. Fuentes is indeed being investigated for her possible participation in the documentation used to justify several party payments within the so-called 'Leire Díez case'.
The coincidence once again concentrates pressure on Ferraz and Moncloa. The PP has presented the conviction as proof against the president, while the Government and the socialist leadership defend that the procedures must run their course and reject that they can be used to attribute responsibilities to Sánchez for actions of others.
The Government trusts that the appeal will correct the conviction
The Provincial Court of Badajoz has sentenced David Sánchez to nine years of disqualification from public employment or office and from running in elections as a necessary cooperator in a crime of administrative prevarication.
The ruling considers that a plan was developed from the Provincial Council to create and modify positions to favor David Sánchez and his collaborator Luis Carrero. It also condemns Miguel Ángel Gallardo, former president of the provincial institution and former leader of the Extremaduran PSOE, to two sentences of nine years for two crimes of prevarication.
The resolution rules out influence peddling and recognizes that it has not been proven that Pedro Sánchez, his entourage, or any other person exerted pressure to achieve the hiring. Nor does it impose prison sentences, although it does impose a prolonged exclusion from public employment and the right to passive suffrage.
David Sánchez's defense considers the sentence "absolutely unfair" and has announced an appeal. The next examination will correspond to the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Extremadura, which may confirm, modify or revoke the ruling issued in Badajoz.
The Government has set a clear position. The spokesperson, Elma Saiz, expressed her respect for the judicial decision, defended the innocence of the president's brother and recalled that the Public Prosecutor's Office requested his acquittal, considering the penal basis of the accusations insufficient.
Saiz also pointed out that the procedure began with a complaint from Manos Limpias, a far-right organization. "We respect the sentence, but obviously we do not share it," she stated before expressing her confidence that higher instances will confirm David Sánchez's innocence.
The PSOE denounces a case built on suspicion
Ferraz has backed both David Sánchez and Miguel Ángel Gallardo and the convicted technicians. The Secretary of Organization, Rebeca Torró, expressed the party's "absolute disagreement" with the ruling and maintained that the procedure originated from false information later converted into a criminal case.
The socialist leader emphasized two elements of the sentence. The court dismisses the external pressures that the accusations placed at the origin of the hiring, and the Public Prosecutor's Office maintained throughout the trial that there was insufficient evidence to convict.
Torró believes that from the beginning, the presumption of innocence was replaced by a "presumption of suspicion" due to the kinship between David and Pedro Sánchez. The PSOE links the case to a broader political strategy against relatives and people close to the head of the Executive.
Patxi López described the sentence as an "absolute barbarity" and denounced a "witch hunt" against the PSOE. María Jesús Montero maintained that the procedure deserved an acquittal, and Montse Mínguez demanded that judicial resolutions be clearly understood by citizens.
Óscar Puente was even more forceful. The Minister of Transport stated that this period will be remembered for how "the seams" of institutions have been strained with the aim of overthrowing the Government. Afterwards, he directed his criticism towards Alberto Núñez Feijóo for making sentences and judicial orders the center of his electoral strategy.
Sumar also questioned the proportionality of the conviction. Alberto Ibáñez warned that resolutions of this nature make it "very difficult to believe in the Rule of Law," while Aina Vidal pointed out the deterioration that these processes cause in the public perception of Justice.
The PSOE of Extremadura has adopted a more contained tone. Its general secretary, Álvaro Sánchez Cotrina, expressed his "utmost respect" for the sentence and maintained personal and political trust in those convicted. The regional leadership will also review its statutes to determine whether any organic measures should be adopted while the appeals are being resolved.
Narbona explains her messages with Leire Díez today
The next appointment will arrive this Wednesday at the National Court. Cristina Narbona will testify as a witness before Santiago Pedraz within the 'Leire case', which investigates an alleged structure aimed at interfering in judicial procedures affecting the PSOE, the Government, or people linked to both.
The appearance was initially scheduled for July 10, but was postponed due to the recent death of the socialist president's mother. Her testimony will focus on a WhatsApp conversation she had with Leire Díez on April 24, 2024, the same day Pedro Sánchez published his 'Letter to the citizenry' and announced a period of reflection on his continuity.
According to the UCO report incorporated into the case, Díez spoke with Narbona about "redirecting" attacks against the president, providing "qualified help" and turning the situation "inside out". Narbona responded by referring to the fact that those issues had already been discussed with Santos Cerdán, then Secretary of Organization.
The president of the PSOE has acknowledged the existence of that conversation, although she maintains that Díez never gave her documents or concrete information. Her version is that she merely referred her to Cerdán as the competent organic official and that she was unaware of the activities that have subsequently ended up under judicial investigation.
Narbona will now have the obligation to respond truthfully due to her status as a witness. Pedraz will try to clarify what information she received, what meaning she gave to the messages, and whether she knew of any subsequent actions by Díez related to the maneuvers examined in the procedure.
The socialist president is not under investigation in this case. Her name appears as a result of the messages and her appearance was requested by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to complete the account of the people who had contact with Díez during the period analyzed.
The PSOE manager must testify in September
Pressure on Ferraz increased this Tuesday with the summons of Ana María Fuentes as an investigated party. Judge Pedraz has summoned her for September 9, the same date on which lawyer Ismael Oliver, who defended Koldo García, must appear.
The investigation attributes to Fuentes a possible participation in the issuance of some engagement notes that, according to the judicial hypothesis, would have allowed justifying payments from the PSOE to lawyers Jacobo Teijelo and Ismael Oliver. Investigators are studying whether part of these funds ended up financing actions related to Leire Díez through shell companies and invoices that concealed their true destination.
The summons allows Fuentes to know the suspicions, attend assisted by a lawyer, and remain silent. The procedure is still in the investigation phase, and the status of an investigated party does not imply that she will be prosecuted or judged.
Patxi López has come out in defense of the manager. The socialist spokesperson in Congress stated that she has managed the party's accounts "with scrupulousness" and recalled that Justice has the invoices and economic documentation provided by the PSOE.
Ferraz maintains its confidence in her for now. The socialist leadership maintains that the payments corresponded to real legal work and hopes that Fuentes can clarify the origin and content of the documents indicated by the judge.
The PP intensifies pressure on Sánchez
The opposition has linked the three episodes within the same offensive against the president. Feijóo presented the conviction as the third issued against Sánchez's inner circle and argued that it demonstrates that no one is above the law.
The popular spokesperson Ester Muñoz even stated that the sentence would bring down a government in any other country. The far-right Vox further escalated the tone with general accusations against the entire PSOE, despite the fact that the resolution is limited to the facts examined in the Provincial Council of Badajoz and is not yet final.
The Executive responds that Pedro Sánchez is outside both the facts proven in his brother's sentence and the proceedings that will be carried out this Wednesday. Moncloa tries to separate the president's political responsibility from procedures affecting family members, former leaders, or party workers.
The day will leave three different calendars. Narbona will testify this Wednesday as a witness, David Sánchez's defense is preparing its appeal before the Superior Court of Justice of Extremadura and Ana María Fuentes will appear as investigated on September 9.
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