16.10.2026 01:40
Spain's Central Electoral Board opened an investigation into Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on the grounds that he used public resources by making an election-style speech at a press conference held after the Council of Ministers meeting. Sanchez, accused of failing to comply with the political neutrality obligation that public officials must observe and of violating the ban on organizing events that suggest achievements, may receive a fine of between 300 and 3,000 Euros under the law.
One day after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez decided to hold early general elections on November 29, his appearance at a press conference at the Prime Minister's residence following the weekly ordinary Council of Ministers meeting held on October 6 became a subject of controversy.
OPPOSITION'S COMPLAINT ACCEPTED, INVESTIGATION OPENED
The main opposition right-wing People's Party (PP) and the parties named “The Celebration Is Over (SALF)” complained to Spain's Central Electoral Commission (JEC), alleging that Sanchez “gave an election-style speech using public resources, as if holding a rally at the Prime Minister's Office.”
Accepting their complaints, the JEC decided to open an investigation into the Prime Minister, under the law on the General Electoral Regime, on the allegation that Sanchez's speaking at the press conference after the Council of Ministers could constitute the offense of “using public resources for electoral purposes.”
Sanchez, accused of “failing to adhere to the obligation of political neutrality that public officials must comply with after an election decision is taken and violating the ban on organizing events that evoke success,” may be fined between 300 and 3,000 euros under the law.
The People's Party, which brought the accusation, claimed that “Sanchez committed a repeat offense,” and announced that Sanchez, who is also the leader of the Socialist Workers' Party, violated laws over the past 6 election periods, was sentenced to 4 fines totaling 6,600 euros by electoral boards, and faced 2 more sanctions upheld by the Supreme Court.
HE HIMSELF SPOKE INSTEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
The minority left coalition government in Spain holds its weekly ordinary Council of Ministers meeting every Tuesday.
Normally, after the Council of Ministers, the government spokesperson and the ministers concerned with the decisions taken appear before the press and answer journalists' questions.
Sanchez himself briefed the press on the adoption of 2 decrees on the housing crisis issued at the October 6 Council of Ministers meeting, and also answered journalists' questions about the announcement of early general elections.