Spain is entering a deep political crisis after anti-fraud and financial police raided the Madrid headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party, as part of a major investigation into the alleged illegal funding of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s party. The operation was carried out following a judicial order, with officers from the elite Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard entering the party's offices to collect data and evidentiary material.
New case file opened following Zapatero involvement
The development comes just one week after charges were brought against former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a close ally of Sanchez, over cases of money laundering, influence peddling, and other offenses linked to the 2021 bailout of the airline Plus Ultra. The case is being investigated by National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz and concerns an alleged network within the Socialist Party involved in a series of offenses, including bribery, leaking classified information, inducing false testimony, falsification of commercial documents, and offenses against state institutions.
Parallel financing system
According to the investigations, the core of the case centers on payments allegedly made by the party's secretariat and administration to a network of associates of Leire Diez, which — according to the authorities — were covered up through fake invoices. The Socialist Party maintains that Diez was acting autonomously and without a party mandate. She, having already left the party, denies any wrongdoing. Among the accused is also the party's administrator, Ana Maria Fuentes.
Secret investigations and bank transactions
Wednesday's operation was the result of months of secret investigations by financial crime specialists from the Civil Guard, who reportedly intercepted messages, communications, and bank movements indicating the existence of a parallel accounting system within the ruling party. The Spanish authorities are examining whether part of the party's financial activities operated outside the official recording and oversight mechanism.
The Sanchez government under constant pressure
The government of Pedro Sanchez has been facing successive corruption scandals for months, which have caused powerful political tremors. The wife and brother of the prime minister are also being investigated for cases of influence peddling, accusations that both reject. At the same time, a former minister and high-ranking party official are being scrutinized for alleged involvement in a bribery ring during the Covid-19 pandemic period. The scandals had led Sanchez in 2025 to issue a public "apology" to citizens, though so far he has not been personally linked to any of the cases.
Balance of power shakes for the minority government
The case comes at a time when Sanchez's fragile minority government faces growing pressure from allies and partners. The head of the Basque Nationalist Party stated that it would be "irresponsible" for the government to continue beyond 2026, speaking of "eight open judicial cases" and a government "surrounded by scandals." Concurrently, a key Catalan ally warned that they would support early elections if extensive illegal financing of the ruling party is proven.
PSOE declares it is "calm" and cooperative
A spokesperson for the Socialist Party stated that the party remains "calm and in full cooperation with the judiciary," assuring that all data requested by the authorities will be handed over normally. However, this new case intensifies the already heavy political climate in Spain and increases the pressure on the Sanchez government during a highly critical period for the country.
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