PM's Brother Convicted
PM Sánchez's Brother Convicted in Graft Case, Banned Nine Years From Office
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Key Points
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The court ruled that David Sánchez’s 2017 appointment to head the Badajoz Performing Arts Office was created without genuine administrative need and aligned with his personal interests, including an opera focus; the ruling stated that the defendants engaged in a grossly arbitrary exercise of power with the sole aim of favouring specific individuals, and one post was later modified to accommodate his opera ambitions.
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Nine other defendants were also handed the same nine-year ban from public office in connection with the case, while former Extremadura PSOE leader Miguel Ángel Gallardo received an 18-year ban; the post in question carried an annual salary of about €55,000.
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The verdict is part of a broader wave of corruption probes surrounding Pedro Sánchez’s government, with mentions of a former close aide receiving a 24-year prison sentence in a separate case, fueling both political criticism and calls for accountability.
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As the case unfolds, authorities also conducted a May 26 police search of the Socialist Party headquarters as part of a National Court probe into possible financial wrongdoing, with the Civil Guard indicating the operation sought material related to accusations against a former party member involved with a state-run company.
David Sánchez, the brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been convicted of administrative misconduct and banned from public office for nine years. CTV News reported that a provincial court in Badajoz ruled his 2017 appointment to a senior cultural post was created without genuine need — and designed to benefit him personally.
The post, which oversaw music conservatories across Badajoz province, came with an annual salary of around €55,000. SUR in English reported the court found the appointment was a grossly arbitrary exercise of power with the sole aim of favouring specific individuals.
How a Cultural Post Was Built Around One Man
David Sánchez was appointed to head the Badajoz Performing Arts Office in 2017. The court found the role was not needed by local government. Instead, it was crafted to fit his personal interests, according to CP24.
The post was later changed to focus on opera — matching David Sánchez's own ambitions in that area. SUR in English noted that this modification was seen as further proof the position was tailored specifically for him rather than created for any real public purpose.
Ten Officials Banned, One Faces 18-Year Bar
David Sánchez was not the only one punished. Nine other defendants also received nine-year bans from public office, according to SUR in English. Miguel Ángel Gallardo, the former leader of the Socialist Party in the Extremadura region, received an 18-year ban — double the length given to the others.
The ruling can be appealed. CTV News noted that the decision adds to a growing list of legal troubles surrounding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's inner circle and government.
Corruption Probes Pile Up Around Sánchez's Government
The conviction is one of several legal cases hitting close to Spain's prime minister. A former close aide was sentenced to 24 years in prison in a separate case. Head Topics reported that the verdict heightens tensions between the government and the judiciary.
In a related development, police searched the Socialist Party headquarters on May 26 as part of a National Court probe into possible financial wrongdoing. SUR in English reported that Spain's Civil Guard said the operation targeted material linked to a former party member connected to a state-run company.
Government Calls Rulings Politically Motivated
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his allies have pushed back hard against the legal pressure. Officials have described the cases as politically motivated attacks aimed at bringing down the government, according to Ukraine Apps for Nexus.
Critics disagree. They welcomed the David Sánchez verdict as a historic rebuke of corruption. The clash between the government and the courts shows no sign of cooling, and the broader scrutiny of Sánchez's leadership continues to grow.
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