Overview
- Ábalos went on trial Tuesday at Spain’s Supreme Court on charges of corruption, embezzlement, influence peddling and taking part in a criminal group.
- Prosecutors say he, ex‑aide Koldo García and businessman Víctor de Aldama formed a criminal pact to steer COVID‑19 mask contracts for profit, and they seek up to 24 years in prison.
- Judges set roughly two weeks of hearings with more than 75 witnesses and about 20 experts, and early testimony from Congress speaker Francina Armengol and minister Víctor Torres included denials of wrongdoing.
- Koldo García’s brother, Joseba, testified that he twice collected cash envelopes at PSOE headquarters to hand to his brother.
- The trial adds strain on the ruling PSOE before the May 17 Andalusia election as opposition leaders call for Pedro Sánchez to resign and as related probes involve party figure Santos Cerdán and members of Sánchez’s family.