The PSOE distances itself from the "solid evidence" against Cerdán: "We are very disappointed and shocked"

BarcelonaOne day after Santos Cerdán's release from prison, the PSOE is widening the gap between itself and its number three in order to shield itself from the alleged corruption scheme. This was made clear on Thursday by Minister Félix Bolaños, who stated that the latest report from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) The Civil Guard provides "solid evidence" against the former Socialist Party organizing secretary. "There are many things that are clear," added Minister Ángel Víctor Torres. "If [Cerdán]He claims there is evidence that they are lies."He will have to prove it," she added on Catalunya Ràdio. The former Socialist Party number three will have an opportunity to explain himself in December before the Senate's investigative committee. The People's Party (PP) has taken advantage of his release from prison to announce that it will summon him. "Now that he's free and has time," the PP spokesperson in the Senate quipped. Speaking to the media at an event in Madrid this morning, she asserted that those at the party headquarters in Ferraz are "very disappointed and shocked" by the new developments in the case when asked about the alleged 2% commissions that, according to the UCO (Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard), Cerdán received in exchange for awarding public works contracts to Acciona. "We had the information we have. If we had, we would have behaved differently," she emphasized. Juanfran Serrano, Cerdán's former deputy in the PSOE's organizational secretariat, also expressed his shock at the revelations about Cerdán. The PP has also summoned him to the Senate. In his case, a date has already been set for Thursday, December 4th. He admitted that the latest information on the case is "damaging" to the party, but they have emphasized the speed and "forcefulness" of their actions in relation to the scheme. "It didn't affect the party, but rather it was a scheme involving specific individuals," Bolaños said. And he added: "We are absolutely certain that there is no irregular financing."

The PP, on the other hand, intends to implicate the entire party and especially its leader in the scheme. "Cerdán," García said at a Peugeot press conference, "if he was the only one left, what about the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez? How did the scheme operate? What role did the PNV play? Who benefited, and who gave the orders?" Sánchez's right-hand man can invoke his right not to testify as a suspect when summoned. ~BK_S

The two members of the Spanish government, who despite their earlier statements called for respect for the "presumption of innocence" of Cerdán and the other individuals under investigation, ultimately asked that the justice system be allowed to do its work to clarify the scope of the alleged corruption case. They also criticized the attacks from the People's Party (PP), which they accused of "turning a blind eye" when corruption is present within its own ranks.

The PP points the finger at Sánchez: "It's clear he knew about the scheme"

However, within the ranks of the People's Party (PP), attacks on the Spanish government continue unabated. The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, has accused Pedro Sánchez of basing his government on a "corrupt pact," as she claims is proven in the UCO reports. She has implicated the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) – implicated in the latest Civil Guard report – Junts, and the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) in this pact: "Why won't they break it, no matter how much corruption there is? Because they manipulate the Penal Code, impose amnesty, and place themselves in all public and private administrations and companies," she asserted. The president of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno Bonilla, also spoke out from the PP, stating that it is "technically impossible" that Sánchez was unaware of Cerdán's activities. "How could he not know what kind of lifestyle they were living? [...] Weren't they aware that they were living far beyond their means?" he asked, referring to the contents of the latest UCO report. "There is a growing suspicion that Mr. Sánchez clearly knew about the scheme."