Spain's Supreme Court jails Sánchez's former right-hand man Ábalos for 24 years
The first final corruption ruling to reach the PM's inner circle, in the pandemic 'masks' case
Summary
On 22 June 2026 the Spain Supreme Court's Second Chamber unanimously convicted ex-Transport Minister and former PSOE organisation secretary Jose Luis Abalos to 24 years 3 months, and his aide Koldo García to 19 years 8 months, for criminal organisation, bribery, embezzlement and influence-peddling tied to pandemic-era mask contracts. Businessman Víctor de Aldama got 4 years 6 months but had execution suspended for cooperating — a leniency the government called "disproportionate." It is the first non-appealable corruption verdict to reach a former Pedro Sanchez minister, immediately triggering opposition resignation demands and feeding his marathon Sánchez survives a marathon Congress grilling, refuses to resign or call elections, with the related Cerdán stays jailed and the Civil Guard searches PSOE HQ over a party 'plumber' still live.
By the numbers
- 24 years 3 months — Ábalos's sentence; Koldo García 19 years 8 months.
- 4 years 6 months — Aldama's sentence, execution suspended.
- ~13 million — masks in the contract at issue.
- €10,000/month — alleged "fixed expenses" paid to Ábalos.
Why it matters
A final, unappealable conviction of Sánchez's one-time closest lieutenant is the gravest legal blow yet to reach his orbit, handing the opposition and restless coalition partners a fresh lever to demand his resignation or early elections.
What to watch
- Whether the verdict shifts coalition partners (Junts, ERC, PNV) toward forcing elections.
- The parallel Cerdán Supreme Court case.
- Whether Aldama's cooperation deal yields further names.