Overview
- The Provincial Court of Badajoz issued a 377‑page judgment on Tuesday that found David Sánchez guilty of prevaricación and disqualified him from public office for nine years; judges said a 2017 provincial post was created specifically for him.
- The court cleared David Sánchez of influence peddling because it found no proof that specific third parties exerted pressure on officials who created or assigned the job.
- Judges described the position as planned and functionally empty, and said Sánchez had taken part in the selection and later altered work conditions to his advantage, which under Spanish law qualifies as administrative abuse of office.
- The Public Prosecutor had at times sought dismissal or acquittal in the case, and the investigation relied on contested UCO material and divergent witness testimony during trial.
- The ruling has sharpened partisan attacks and defenses, raises political pressure on the prime minister though he is not legally implicated, and reporters note inconsistent accounts across outlets about the exact penalty given to co‑defendant Miguel Ángel Gallardo.