MADRID (Reuters) -The brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will stand trial accused of influence peddling in a case that the Socialist premier says was fabricated by far-right political opponents.
The anti-corruption campaign group Manos Limpias alleges that the Socialist-led Badajoz council tailor-made a job for David Sanchez as coordinator of public music schools in July 2017, when his brother Pedro was the party’s national leader.
Prosecutors had wanted the case thrown out for lack of evidence, but a judge, who in Spain can allow a private party to pursue a criminal case, on Tuesday disagreed and sent the case to trial.
Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) is led by Miguel Bernad, a lawyer and politician who has stood as a candidate for a far-right party in European elections. It has requested a jail sentence of three years. David Sanchez has said he is innocent.
Pedro Sanchez has publicly defended his family and said a raft of court cases against them have been orchestrated by political opponents.
They include a corruption investigation against two former close allies and a probe into whether his wife Begona Gomez used her status to influence her business dealings, which led the premier to consider resigning in April 2024.
Government spokesperson Pilar Alegria said on Tuesday she had the “utmost respect” for the judicial system.
“I hope that the truth will come to light and set things straight,” she told reporters.
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Charlie Devereux and Kevin Liffey)
