Judge Pedraz Gives PSOE 15 Days to Submit Lawyer List Amid Ongoing Corruption Probe
National Court judge Santiago Pedraz ordered the PSOE to provide a list of lawyers hired between 2021 and 2025 within 15 days, while the party cites professional-secrecy concerns.
Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional issued a 15-day ultimatum for the PSOE to submit a complete roster of lawyers it employed from 2021 to 2025, warning the party not to condition compliance on extrajudicial actions. The PSOE replied that it delayed the response to verify with the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española whether the request infringed professional secrecy, insisting it does not aim to stall the court's order.
Meanwhile, the People's Party filed a request seeking to indict the PSOE for five crimes, ranging from bribery to illegal financing. Pedraz noted that while there is an "objective basis" for the probe, additional investigative steps are needed to determine who ordered payments, how they were recorded, and whether the party can be treated as a juridical person under investigation. He concluded that a decision on formal charges will follow once those inquiries are completed.
Why it matters
The judge's decision could lead to criminal charges against Spain's governing socialist party.
How this story developed
- Oct 18 Feijóo leads PP rally in Barcelona as Spain's election campaign heats up
- Oct 19 The quarterly barometer, funded by the Junta de Andalucía, indicates that the People's Party under Juanma Moreno would remain the most voted force in the region, though it would not regain an absolute majority. The Socialist Party, led nationally by Pedro Sánchez, appears to be losing support, while the far-right Vox and the regional Adelante Andalucía both show notable gains. The coalition Por Andalucía, headed by Antonio Maíllo, is projected to stay roughly steady.
- Oct 23 A Senate poll projection was released showing the PSOE‑Frente Amplio bloc ahead with 114 seats.
- Oct 23 Feijóo publicly declared he will pursue government formation even without his party winning the most votes.
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