Spanish Corruption Probe Reaches Former Sánchez Aide

The Spanish High Court has expanded its investigation into a corruption scandal to include the former chief of staff to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the former head of the national postal service, Juan Manuel Serrano. Police are to seize and analyze data from his cell phone.

This is yet another problem for Sánchez, whose government has been plagued over the past two years by several corruption scandals involving members of the Socialist Party (PSOE), his cabinet and his close associates. Last month, a court sentenced his former right-hand man to 24 years in prison.

Serrano served as one of Sánchez's top advisers within the party from 2014 to 2018. After the prime minister took office in 2018, he became director of the national postal service, a position he held until 2023.

According to the court, he is suspected of involvement in an alleged conspiracy aimed at obstructing police and judicial investigations involving the PSOE. The investigation focuses on text messages between Serrano and Leire Diez, who is described as the main organizer of the scheme. Diez has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Judge Santiago Pedraz acknowledged that Serrano and Diez may have used public institutions for their own benefit or for the benefit of third parties. The investigation also involves Vicente Fernández, the former head of the state-owned holding company SEPI.

(Reuters, bak)