Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, has adopted a resolute strategy amidst escalating political scandals that have intensified tensions within the Spanish political landscape.

The core of this strategy, communicated to his inner circle, is a steadfast refusal to retract accusations made against Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid, involving a former captain named Juan Vicente Bonilla, who was recently appointed as head of security for the Ministry of Health in Madrid.

Several ministers have cited an audio recording featuring Bonilla, in which he allegedly discusses a bomb threat linked to Sánchez.

Following initial reports that framed this audio in a sensational manner, it later emerged that the claims were unfounded.

Despite this clarification, Ministers María Jesús Montero, Pilar Alegría, and Óscar López have declined to correct their previous statements, maintaining that the discussion contains aggressive expressions that warrant scrutiny.

During a press briefing following a recent Cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Pilar Alegría repeatedly refrained from amending the record, aligning with official sources from Moncloa, the Spanish executive's headquarters, which insisted that the nature of the conversation is open to interpretation.

Moncloa's strategy appears to be an attempt to shift the narrative surrounding recent political scandals, including allegations concerning the actions of certain PSOEs (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) officials, towards portraying these incidents as part of a broader conspiracy against the ruling progressive government.

The administration's messaging relies on the existence of damaging conversations and other potential revelations involving figures like businessman Javier Pérez Dolset, who has been amassing material regarding alleged illicit activities.

This approach, however, has contributed to a burgeoning belief in the existence of a so-called "patriotic UCO"—a reference to a faction of the Civil Guard that allegedly seeks to manipulate scandals with the aim of destabilizing Sánchez's administration.

This suggestion of a coordinated effort involving law enforcement, judiciary members, and journalists to undermine the government has drawn parallels to alleged machinations from previous administrations.

Recently, representatives from the Bildu and Junts parties in Congress have raised concerns about the purported "patriotic UCO." In a related development, Podemos and ERC have submitted a parliamentary initiative demanding that Sánchez appear before Congress to address the controversial activities surrounding Leire Díez, highlighting the perceived need for transparency regarding criminal practices within police departments.

The People's Party (PP) had previously proposed a similar initiative, seeking explanations from Sánchez, but the new proposals from Podemos and ERC emphasize the persistence of alleged "dirty tricks" within the Civil Guard's ranks.

Podemos contends that Sánchez's silence amidst these allegations is detrimental to the integrity of democracy and has called for immediate clarifications to reinforce public trust.

As pressure mounts for Sánchez to address these claims, the government has resolved to evade a public appearance in Congress.

This is part of a broader strategy that includes restricting media access and limiting interviews with Sánchez, who has not engaged with national press outlets in recent weeks.

The congressional board of spokespersons could potentially compel Sánchez to testify, although it remains uncertain whether a majority will back this move.

Moreover, the Congress presidency has the authority to delay such an appearance until after the summer recess, especially with key international engagements, including a NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June, on Sánchez's schedule.