Spain’s former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple corruption-related offences, marking the first major verdict in a series of cases linked to Spain’s ruling Socialist Party.
The Supreme Court said the lengthy sentence was due to several crimes, including alleged kickbacks connected to the purchase of COVID-19 protective masks and the damage caused to public confidence by a senior government official violating public service rules.
However, under Spanish law, Ábalos’ actual time in prison will be limited to about 16 and a half years.
The case is part of a wider corruption investigation involving more than a dozen people close to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, including his wife, brother and a former senior Socialist leader. Authorities have not accused Sánchez himself in any of the cases.
The government said it supports “transparency, merit and integrity” and condemned any actions that violated those principles.
The ruling has increased pressure from opposition parties demanding Sánchez resign and call for early elections, although the government has rejected holding elections before the end of its term in 2027.
The court found evidence that a €13 million contract for face masks was awarded to a company connected to businessman Víctor de Aldama. De Aldama admitted involvement in illegal payments and received a suspended sentence.
Investigators also found evidence of monthly payments of €10,000 made to Ábalos for personal expenses, as well as benefits provided to associates linked to him.
The verdict has renewed debate in Spain over political accountability and public trust in government institutions.
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