Allegations of Vote Manipulation Emerge in Spanish PSOE Primaries
Santos Cerdán faces accusations of orchestrating vote tampering during the 2014 PSOE primaries in favor of Pedro Sánchez.
Santos Cerdán, the current Secretary of Organization for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), is embroiled in a controversy following allegations of vote manipulation during the 2014 PSOE primaries.
According to a report submitted by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard to Supreme Court magistrate Leopoldo Puente, Cerdán allegedly instructed Koldo García, an advisor associated with the PSOE, on how to influence the electoral outcome in favor of Pedro Sánchez, who was one of the candidates at the time.
The report includes a series of WhatsApp messages exchanged between Cerdán and García from July 13, 2014. In one key message, Cerdán reportedly advised García to add votes for Sánchez discreetly, stating, 'When you finish, note down that those two have voted, WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING YOU, and put in the two ballots.' Note that García affirmatively responded just minutes later, indicating that the task was completed.
García, who held a position as an advisor in the Ministry of Transport after the PSOE came to power, was identified in the report with the contact name 'SANTOS JEFE PSOE,' indicating a close working relationship with Cerdán.
During the 2014 primaries, Sánchez competed against José Antonio Pérez Tapias and Eduardo Madina.
The latter has recently called for transparency from the PSOE regarding alleged improprieties associated with Cerdán's activities, particularly concerning the UCO's investigations into a broader corruption scandal implicating Sánchez, his family, and members of the government.
Madina decried the alleged actions of party insiders as 'absurd' and criticized the party's response to these allegations.
In response to Madina's remarks, current Transport Minister Óscar Puente defended Cerdán and dismissed Madina's criticisms, suggesting that those opposing the current leadership lack support within the party.
The Supreme Court judge has attributed serious charges to Cerdán, including organized crime and bribery connected to public works contracts in exchange for kickbacks, allegedly in collusion with José Luis Ábalos and García. The magistrate has indicated that there is 'consistent evidence' in the UCO report that links Cerdán to the illicit awarding of public contracts.
Moreover, the judge has lifted the confidentiality of a separate investigation concerning this matter following the reception of the UCO report, which details the gathered evidence.
Both Ábalos and García have been summoned to testify again on June 24, while Cerdán has been requested to provide a voluntary statement on June 25, although his status as a deputy requires that any legal actions against him be escalated to the Supreme Court's consideration.
According to a report submitted by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard to Supreme Court magistrate Leopoldo Puente, Cerdán allegedly instructed Koldo García, an advisor associated with the PSOE, on how to influence the electoral outcome in favor of Pedro Sánchez, who was one of the candidates at the time.
The report includes a series of WhatsApp messages exchanged between Cerdán and García from July 13, 2014. In one key message, Cerdán reportedly advised García to add votes for Sánchez discreetly, stating, 'When you finish, note down that those two have voted, WITHOUT ANYONE SEEING YOU, and put in the two ballots.' Note that García affirmatively responded just minutes later, indicating that the task was completed.
García, who held a position as an advisor in the Ministry of Transport after the PSOE came to power, was identified in the report with the contact name 'SANTOS JEFE PSOE,' indicating a close working relationship with Cerdán.
During the 2014 primaries, Sánchez competed against José Antonio Pérez Tapias and Eduardo Madina.
The latter has recently called for transparency from the PSOE regarding alleged improprieties associated with Cerdán's activities, particularly concerning the UCO's investigations into a broader corruption scandal implicating Sánchez, his family, and members of the government.
Madina decried the alleged actions of party insiders as 'absurd' and criticized the party's response to these allegations.
In response to Madina's remarks, current Transport Minister Óscar Puente defended Cerdán and dismissed Madina's criticisms, suggesting that those opposing the current leadership lack support within the party.
The Supreme Court judge has attributed serious charges to Cerdán, including organized crime and bribery connected to public works contracts in exchange for kickbacks, allegedly in collusion with José Luis Ábalos and García. The magistrate has indicated that there is 'consistent evidence' in the UCO report that links Cerdán to the illicit awarding of public contracts.
Moreover, the judge has lifted the confidentiality of a separate investigation concerning this matter following the reception of the UCO report, which details the gathered evidence.
Both Ábalos and García have been summoned to testify again on June 24, while Cerdán has been requested to provide a voluntary statement on June 25, although his status as a deputy requires that any legal actions against him be escalated to the Supreme Court's consideration.
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