Transport Minister Óscar Puente criticized the court’s leniency with Aldama, suggesting society take note of the ruling. “See, kids? If you commit crimes but then behave and ‘cooperate,’ forgiveness will come through,” he wrote in a post on X. “You won’t even go to prison.”
The decision adds pressure on Pedro Sánchez, who appointed Ábalos to significant roles in the ruling Socialist Party and his initial governments. Spain’s leader is finding it difficult to distance himself from numerous corruption cases involving close political allies, relatives, and other inner circle members.
Following the announcement, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, of the center-right People’s Party, called for Sánchez’s resignation.
“The prime minister is politically responsible for the corruption of his ministers in office,” he stated. “His most trusted advisor, the custodian and errand boy of the Sánchez regime, has been convicted.”
Nevertheless, Feijóo said he would not push for a no-confidence vote against Sánchez in the Spanish parliament as securing majority backing seems unlikely.
Sánchez has promised to govern until 2027, the end of the current legislature. However, on Monday, parliamentary allies like Gabriel Rufián from the Republican Left of Catalonia questioned the logic of Sánchez holding on to power amid increasing corruption associations with his party.
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