President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez has unveiled a package of 15 anti-corruption reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability within Spain’s political and public contracting systems. The move comes as his government faces growing scrutiny following the resignation of senior Socialist Party official Santos Cerdán, who has been linked to a widening corruption scandal.
Speaking from Moncloa Palace on Tuesday, Sánchez insisted he would not step down, saying,
“I am a clean politician, and I will continue to serve with integrity.”
He described the reforms as a necessary response to “decades of unresolved systemic issues” that have damaged public trust.
Among the key measures proposed are:
- A ban on public contracts for companies found guilty of bribery or fraudulent practices
- Stricter conflict-of-interest checks for public officials
- Legal protections for whistleblowers reporting corruption or abuse of power
- A national public contract register, to improve transparency and traceability of state procurement
- Increased powers for anti-corruption prosecutors and judicial independence safeguards
The reforms, which will now be debated in Parliament, are framed as part of Sánchez’s broader democratic renewal agenda. However, opposition parties have criticised the timing, arguing the measures are an attempt to deflect attention from recent allegations involving PSOE members and regional contractors.
The scandal surrounding Santos Cerdán — who until last week held the post of Secretary of Organisation for the Socialist Party — centres on alleged influence-peddling and illicit lobbying activity tied to regional infrastructure tenders. While Cerdán denies wrongdoing, his resignation has fuelled calls for a deeper investigation into party practices.
Sánchez acknowledged the political damage but urged Parliament to “rise above short-term rivalry” and focus on institutional reform. He said the package is designed not only to clean up political life but also to improve Spain’s standing within the EU, especially with additional EU funding linked to governance benchmarks.
Spain has made progress on corruption perception rankings in recent years, but watchdogs including Transparency International have warned that opaque contracting processes and political appointments remain problematic at both regional and national levels.
If passed, these measures could mark the most significant anti-corruption overhaul in Spain in more than a decade.
