David Sánchez, brother of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has an appointment this morning that will mark his future. The Provincial Court of Badajoz has summoned him at 9:30 a.m. to inform him of how it has resolved the preliminary issues raised by his defense last Thursday during the first session of the trial against him for the alleged crimes of influence peddling and malfeasance.
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Sánchez’s lawyer requested the nullity of the trial arguing that his client’s fundamental rights have been violated, that the investigation by the examining judge was prospective, and that the crimes Sánchez is accused of have expired. The prosecutor, who does not accuse Sánchez, joined the request to consider the crime of malfeasance as expired. The Court scheduled the parties for this morning to announce its decision on these allegations. If accepted, the trial will have ended before it started. If not upheld, the session will begin with the testimony of the first witnesses.
Where might the Court’s resolution go? When the indictment order was issued, Sánchez’s defense appealed it. The Badajoz Court dismissed their appeal, so it is likely to maintain that position and the trial will continue. However, it remains to be seen how the Court resolves the request to consider the crime of malfeasance as expired.
David Sánchez and the former president of the Badajoz Provincial Council, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, are accused of having created a job position, coordinator of the conservatories, tailored to the president’s brother. That senior management position began to be designed in 2016. Later, a public call was made to which 10 other people applied. The position went to David Sánchez, who took office in May 2017.
Later, in 2022, the conditions of that position were changed and Sánchez became director of the Performing Arts Office. The prosecution believes that this modification was also irregular. Additionally, in 2024, the Badajoz Provincial Council hired a friend of David Sánchez, Luis Carrero, which constitutes the third vertex of the accusation.
In total, there are 11 defendants and seven popular accusations including the political parties PP and Vox and the entities Hazte Oír, Manos Limpias, which initiated the procedure, Abogados Cristianos, Liberum, and Iustitia Europa. If the trial is finally held, about forty witnesses will appear before the Court. The process will last throughout this week. The forecast is that the two main defendants, Sánchez and Gallardo, will testify on Thursday or Friday. Monday and Tuesday of next week have been set aside for the presentation of final reports.
The title of controversy
The accusations have already indicated that they will focus on David Sánchez’s degree. The prime minister’s brother, who holds a degree in Economics, lived in Russia where he obtained with honors a degree in Musical Composition and Opera Conducting at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. The accusations see shadows in that degree considering that the original document, which was essential to obtain the coordinator of conservatories position, was not submitted at the time. They also denounce that the validation was done in a record time of one week when this type of procedure can take years.
