Revelations from UCO Report Spark Political Turmoil in Spain
Audio recordings implicating PSOE officials in potential corruption emerge following the resignation of Santos Cerdán.
On June 12, 2025, significant political turbulence ensued in Spain following the release of a report by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard, which ultimately led to the resignation of Santos Cerdán, the former Secretary of Organization for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
This report has prompted a wider crisis within the PSOE and the government, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offering apologies to the public.
The following day, audio recordings referenced in the UCO's investigation were made public.
These recordings uncover conversations indicative of illegal activities involving Cerdán, former Minister José Luis Ábalos, and Koldo García, a former advisor.
In one of the recordings from 2019, Cerdán is heard requesting financial assistance from García, who claims to have provided a total of 60,000 euros to Ábalos, implying that 50,000 euros were meant for Ábalos and that he had kept the remaining 10,000 for himself.
García expressed that he had given all the funds to the ex-minister and noted that Ábalos was still owed money.
The conversation revolves around a conflict involving Pedro Saura, highlighting internal disputes within the party.
Another recording allegedly captures conversations between Ábalos and García discussing the allocation of public works contracts.
Investigations suggest that these discussions pertain to potential kickbacks amounting to at least 620,000 euros.
García updated Ábalos on the distribution of these public works contracts, affirming that Cerdán was informed of the arrangements.
The audio reportedly features Ábalos instructing García to communicate with Cerdán regarding these matters.
In a more serious revelation, García recorded himself stating, "Santos has kept money from me, and he did it right in front of me," suggesting that Cerdán may have illegally profited from rigged contracts.
Furthermore, the recording indicates that after Ábalos left his ministerial post, he and García appeared to continue seeking intermediary roles to earn illegal commissions, with discussions of Cerdán owing them substantial amounts.
Additional audio segments detail discussions regarding business opportunities and personal matters, revealing a complex network of interactions among the officials.
In a notable excerpt, García purportedly proposed to Ábalos the ability to obtain half a million euros per month from a Venezuelan oil company, contingent on formal recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó by Spain, an offer that prompted Ábalos' curiosity.
These audio recordings, made by García himself and secured during a police raid in February 2024, were later included in the evidence presented by the Civil Guard to judicial authorities, where they currently remain for investigation.
This report has prompted a wider crisis within the PSOE and the government, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez offering apologies to the public.
The following day, audio recordings referenced in the UCO's investigation were made public.
These recordings uncover conversations indicative of illegal activities involving Cerdán, former Minister José Luis Ábalos, and Koldo García, a former advisor.
In one of the recordings from 2019, Cerdán is heard requesting financial assistance from García, who claims to have provided a total of 60,000 euros to Ábalos, implying that 50,000 euros were meant for Ábalos and that he had kept the remaining 10,000 for himself.
García expressed that he had given all the funds to the ex-minister and noted that Ábalos was still owed money.
The conversation revolves around a conflict involving Pedro Saura, highlighting internal disputes within the party.
Another recording allegedly captures conversations between Ábalos and García discussing the allocation of public works contracts.
Investigations suggest that these discussions pertain to potential kickbacks amounting to at least 620,000 euros.
García updated Ábalos on the distribution of these public works contracts, affirming that Cerdán was informed of the arrangements.
The audio reportedly features Ábalos instructing García to communicate with Cerdán regarding these matters.
In a more serious revelation, García recorded himself stating, "Santos has kept money from me, and he did it right in front of me," suggesting that Cerdán may have illegally profited from rigged contracts.
Furthermore, the recording indicates that after Ábalos left his ministerial post, he and García appeared to continue seeking intermediary roles to earn illegal commissions, with discussions of Cerdán owing them substantial amounts.
Additional audio segments detail discussions regarding business opportunities and personal matters, revealing a complex network of interactions among the officials.
In a notable excerpt, García purportedly proposed to Ábalos the ability to obtain half a million euros per month from a Venezuelan oil company, contingent on formal recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó by Spain, an offer that prompted Ábalos' curiosity.
These audio recordings, made by García himself and secured during a police raid in February 2024, were later included in the evidence presented by the Civil Guard to judicial authorities, where they currently remain for investigation.
Translation:
Translated by AI
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
