10 minutes and without speaking of his hiring: this has been the statement of Pedro Sánchez's brother

MadridDavid Sánchez's anticipated statement at the trial over his hiring by the Badajoz Provincial Council lasted 10 minutes and 20 seconds. He was only questioned by his lawyer, Emilio Cortés, who asked him 25 questions about his office, the change in the title of his job, and the hiring of a friend who helped him, but without mentioning how he got his job in 2017. He also did not allude to Pedro Sánchez at any time. The lawyer began the questioning by asking about the office David Sánchez used, a question that comes after a cut video circulated during the investigation which made it seem like he didn't know where he worked. And he wanted to get ahead of the rumors. What was the Performing Arts Office that he directed? "It was not understood as a physical office with a counter or a physical building," he said. In other words, it was not a building, but an administrative category.

He started as a coordinator of conservatory activities, and later, his position's title changed, which is one of the things the prosecution believes is suspicious. However, David Sánchez has completely distanced himself from it. He said he found out "when it had already been done," he stressed that he continued to receive the same salary, and justified the reasons: "It happened due to the natural evolution of the activities that were being carried out." And his lawyer reinforced the explanation: "There was an increase in the volume of subsidies and a certain geographical expansion of what had to do with the initial mandate." "Did you request the change of title? Did you use any influence? Did you decide it?", his lawyer asked him. And he denied it on all three occasions.

The hiring of his friend: "I have no capacity to say anything"

The hiring of his friend: "I have no capacity to say anything"

The other leg of the accusation is the hiring of Luis Carrero, a friend of his who previously worked at Moncloa and who also sits on the defendant's bench. Previously, he helped him "write ideas better" in an "uninterested" way because he was a "person very interested in cultural projects." David Sánchez has denied influencing anyone to hire him, has said he did not speak to anyone, and has assured that he had no privileged information about the procedure.

His lawyer alluded to an email from October 2023 between the two of them which implies that the position was awarded 23 days in advance, and he wanted to put it in context: "He tells me that the position was already there. I confused that the position was awarded with the publication of the position. Luis corrects me and tells me that he has no news or calendar," he recounted. And he made it clear that he had no influence: "I have neither the capacity to say anything nor administrative information about the status of the procedure." Regarding Carrero's functions, he acknowledged that he was a "very valid" person, but pointed out that the job he had to do required technical training that he had and Carrero did not: "He is a very talented person, but he cannot do my job."

Miguel Ángel Gallardo says he did not know Sánchez had a brother

The next to declare was Miguel Ángel Gallardo, who was president of the Provincial Council of Extremadura at the time of the events and from 2024 to December 2025 was leader of the PSOE of Extremadura. His lawyer, Juan José Torres, did ask him about Pedro Sánchez: "Did he contact you requesting any personal support? Did he speak to you directly or indirectly about his brother?", he posed. He pointed out that Sánchez was neither president of the Spanish government nor secretary general of the PSOE and denied that he made any request: "I did not have a fluid relationship with him and not even at that time was I aware that he had brothers".

In relation to the creation of the position that would end up being for David Sánchez, he also said that he was not thinking of anyone in particular: "How can I think of a specific person if what is being created is a need?", he replied. And he also denied that he made a "tailor-made suit" or exerted influence so that Sánchez's brother would end up being hired. "I did not say or suggest who should be appointed for that position, I thought 'May the best man win'", he made clear. Regarding the modification of David Sánchez's job, he assured that he did not intervene: "I had no participation, it was a technical matter".

"The most suitable candidate was chosen"

The former director of the Culture area of the Provincial Council of Badajoz, Elisa Moriano, said that she never met with anyone to create David Sánchez's job. “My profile was purely technical,” she insisted. “I did not modify the requirements for this job and the applicants received equal treatment and the most suitable candidate was finally chosen,” she insisted. The former delegate deputy for Culture of Badajoz, Cristina Núñez, said that it was not “the only position that was created” in her department that legislature and that she also did not know who David Sánchez was when he applied. “The position was processed quickly because we wanted it to be operational before the next academic year,” she pointed out regarding the speed of promoting this position. Regarding whether Sánchez carried out his activities, she said yes, giving different activities as an example. “No one told me he didn't work,” she concluded.

Juana Cintas, former director of Human Resources of the Provincial Council of Badajoz, said that she did not know the functions that Sánchez exercised because it was not her role. “No one informed me of what he did or didn't do,” she summarized. In any case, she made it clear that she had no knowledge “of any non-compliance or complaint” about Sánchez's brother by any employee or superior. Manuel Candalija, general director of Culture, defended Sánchez's choice because the other candidates did not earn more merit than him to obtain the position.