The PSOE stands up to the conviction of Sánchez's brother and denounces a strategy against the Government: "They are innocent"

The PSOE has closed ranks with David Sánchez, Miguel Ángel Gallardo and the technicians convicted by the Provincial Court of Badajoz. The federal leadership has shown its "absolute disagreement" with the sentence, has defended the innocence of all of them and has placed the origin of the procedure in a complaint by Manos Limpias based, according to the socialists, on false information.

The PSOE's Organization Secretary, Rebeca Torró, has been in charge of setting the party's official position. In a video released this Tuesday, she stressed that the judicial resolution rules out that any external pressure or influence has been proven in the hiring of the Prime Minister's brother at the Provincial Council of Badajoz.

"David Sánchez, Miguel Ángel Gallardo and the technicians are innocent and have the full support of the PSOE," Torró affirmed. The party respects the court's decision, although it trusts that higher instances will review a conviction it considers unjust.

The PSOE points to the ultra origin of the case

Torró recalled that the procedure began with a complaint by Manos Limpias, a far-right organization that initially attributed unjustified assets, tax fraud, and influence peddling to David Sánchez. These accusations were left out of the process during the investigation or have been dismissed in the sentence.

The Court has finally sentenced David Sánchez to nine years of disqualification from holding public office or employment and from running in elections as a necessary cooperator in a crime of administrative prevarication. Miguel Ángel Gallardo has received two sentences of nine years for two crimes of prevarication.

The court considers that there was a plan to create positions intended to favor David Sánchez and his collaborator Luis Carrero. The sentence, at the same time, states that it has not been proven that Pedro Sánchez, his entourage, or any other person exerted pressure to obtain the position. It also acquits the accused of the crime of influence peddling.

The socialist Organization Secretary has reproached that throughout the procedure the presumption of innocence was replaced by a "presumption of suspicion". She also emphasized that the Prosecutor's Office maintained that the evidence lacked sufficient criminal entity and requested the acquittal of all those prosecuted.

According to Torró, the trial proved that David Sánchez accessed the position due to his training and professional experience. The position was created in 2017, when his brother still lacked institutional and organic responsibilities at the head of the country and the PSOE.

The leader has linked the process to a strategy aimed at wearing down the Executive through cases against relatives and people close to the president. "Whoever can do, let them do", she added, recalling the words used in his day by José María Aznar against the Government.

Montse Mínguez asks for a Justice that citizens can understand

The spokesperson for the Federal Executive, Montse Mínguez, has focused her reaction on the reasoning of the ruling and on the doubts that, in her opinion, some sentences known in recent months generate.

Mínguez has compared the case of David Sánchez and Gallardo with the conviction of the former Attorney General of the State. The spokesperson has highlighted that in both resolutions expressions such as "it has not been proven" or "it has not been accredited" appear, despite ending up imposing convictions.

"We only ask one thing of Justice, that citizens can understand it. It seems tremendous to me," she wrote.

The socialist leadership considers that the harshness of the penalty is difficult to reconcile with the absence of evidence about the influences that motivated the initial complaint. Patxi López has described the conviction as "an absolute barbarity" and maintains that the procedure ended up persecuting a person for their family relationship with the president.

The socialist spokesperson in Congress has assured that the party accepts the ruling, but maintains its complaint about a "witch hunt" directed against the PSOE. He also recalled that the sentence is not final and will be appealed.

The Government and the Extremaduran PSOE trust in the appeals

From the Government, Elma Saiz has expressed respect for the actions of the courts and has defended the innocence of David Sánchez. The spokesperson has recalled that the procedure originated from a complaint by an ultra organization and that the Prosecutor's Office requested acquittal considering that there was no criminal basis.

Moncloa hopes that the following judicial instances will correct the conviction. The position of the Executive coincides with that expressed by Sumar, which has defined the nine years of disqualification as a disproportionate penalty and has warned of the deterioration of citizens' trust in Justice.

The PSOE of Extremadura has opted for a more cautious tone. Its secretary general has conveyed his "maximum respect" for the sentence and for judicial independence, although he also maintains his trust in the innocence of Gallardo and the rest of those convicted.

Álvaro Sánchez Cotrina has appeared "affected" by the ruling and has claimed his obligation to face up "in good times and bad". Several of those convicted have already informed him that they will appeal and the regional leadership will review its statutes to determine the corresponding organic consequences.

The defenses are now preparing their appeals before the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of Extremadura. The PSOE will maintain its support for those convicted while the sentence remains pending review.