Sánchez defends the Attorney General, and Feijóo accuses him of being a "danger to democracy."

MadridPedro Sánchez faced off this Wednesday in the control session in Congress after weeks of silence and sidestepped some of the controversies that have dogged him, such as the Leire Díez case or the latest developments in the Koldo investigation in the Supreme Court, such as the search of the home of former minister José Luis Ábalos. What the president of the Spanish government did do was close ranks with the Attorney General of the State in the face of attacks from the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who has demanded the dismissal of Álvaro García Ortiz. "You cannot prosecute crimes against someone who allegedly committed them," argued the PP leader, to which Sánchez responded that the Spanish government has no intention of letting him fall. the highest official in the public ministry for his prosecution in the Supreme Court for revealing secrets. "This government, between prosecutors who pursue criminals and criminals, will always stand with the prosecutors who pursue these criminals," the Socialist leader stated. In response to this defense, Feijóo accused Sánchez of being "a true danger to democracy."

The Popular Party leader criticized the Spanish prime minister for his ministers' rampant attacks on the Supreme Court, the judiciary, and the media over judicial investigations into Sánchez's entourage. "It's disrupting coexistence, it's weakening the separation of powers. He can't control justice, so he wants to destroy it," the opposition leader denounced the same day that Judges and prosecutors protest against justice reform promoted by Sánchez's executive. Also this Wednesday, the president of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and the Supreme Court, Isabel Perelló, called at an event for "authorities and individuals to regain respect" for the courts of justice and to stop the "constant disqualification of those who disagree with their decisions."

The president of the Spanish government responded with an attack on Feijóo, whom he described as a hypocrite. "What you do is studied in psychology. It's called the mirror effect and it's reproaching your opponent for what you do. Feijóo says that I'm a hood with the photo album he has," said Sánchez, who reproached the embrace of the popular leader to the Valencian president, Carlos Mazón, and has also praised the economic and social achievements of the progressive coalition.

Suspicions about Santos Cerdán

The PP deputies have taken advantage Tuesday's searches in the Koldo case at Ábalos's house in Valencia and at several companies in an attempt to corner the Spanish government. Feijóo, apart from raising the possibility of dismissing the Attorney General, also asked Sánchez about Santos Cerdán, the number three in the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), whom some reports link to alleged irregularities in the awarding of public contracts. "Do you endorse it or not?" Feijóo asked, but Sánchez ignored him. Other leaders of the PP leadership mentioned this matter in questions to other members of the Council of Ministers.

The fact that the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard searched the headquarters of the construction company Servinabar in Pamplona (Navarra), where Cerdán is from, and also in Vizcaya (Basque Country), in parallel with the search of the home of former Transport Minister Víctor de Aldama, confirmed that Cerdán had also received illegal commissions. According to The WorldIn the UCO report received by the Koldo case instructor at the Supreme Court, Leopoldo Puente, on June 5, which prompted this operation, there are indications of Cerdán's criminality. "A revealing silence," asserted the PP leader during the face-to-face meeting.

Spanish government sources defend Cerdán—also the PSOE's main interlocutor with Junts—and assure that he is not linked to any irregularities. "Full support for Santos," they affirm in Moncloa, explaining Sánchez's silence because "they don't want to fall into the PP's trap." They also cast doubt on the report that would implicate the Socialist organization secretary, which they see as speculation. "We don't know if there is a report, if there isn't one. We don't know the content," the same sources counter, while at the same time urging an investigation into Ábalos, about whom they won't vouch.

He dodges the Leire Díaz case.

Feijóo hasn't mentioned the Leire Díez case, whose former Socialist party member's audio recordings were leaked in which she offered judicial benefits to an indicted businessman and in which she dug up dirt on the Civil Guard. Was she acting on behalf of the PSOE? This is what the PP assumes, although they have focused their attacks on other fronts. Sánchez has thus maintained the same strategy of ignoring the issue, on which he has yet to comment, but from which the Socialists are distancing themselves, relegating Díez to the category of "freak."

Sánchez had to attend the control session after weeks without appearing. Not only has he been avoiding journalists' questions, but he had also not spoken in Congress. Sources within his team deny this is due to a "conspiratorial" strategy and attribute it to scheduling conflicts. Last week, the seat was not full, and the previous week, he missed the control session due to his international commitments. This lack of explanation has even upset the partners of the plurinational majority. Some of them, such as ERC, have demanded that he appear to explain specifically the Leire case. He is not expected to appear in a plenary session again until July.

Felipe González also wants elections

The PP's pressure for Sánchez to bring forward the elections, accusing the Spanish government of being a "mafia," also received support this Wednesday from former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González. In a media address, he expressed his support for voting when asked about this issue; a cry echoed by the president of Castilla-La Mancha, the rebellious Socialist Emiliano García-Page. "If he asked for it, then I agree with Page, but not with Feijóo," asserted González, attempting to distance himself from the Popular Party (PP), even though he is demanding the same thing. However, he did warn that he doesn't like the PP's "mafia or democracy" slogan because "it's a simplification."