Spanish court convicts Sánchez’s brother, heightening PM’s clash with judiciary

A provincial court in Badajoz on Tuesday convicted David Sánchez, the brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, of administrative misconduct. The judges ruled that his 2017 appointment as coordinator of music conservatories was an “unethical practice” driven by personal interest rather than the public good, and they barred him from holding public office for nine years.

The decision marks a new low in the prime minister’s contentious relationship with the judiciary. Sánchez has long claimed that he and his family are victims of “lawfare”—questionable legal proceedings aimed at harassing political opponents—and has accused conservative judges of political interference that damages the justice system.

The charges stem from David Sánchez’s appointment in Badajoz, Extremadura. In 2024, the far-right-linked group Manos Limpias, which Spain’s Supreme Court accused of filing frivolous lawsuits to undermine the government, lodged a complaint alleging the position was created specifically for the prime minister’s younger brother and that civil servants rigged the competition in his favor.

Sánchez has consistently denied the allegations. His defense argued that favoritism was impossible because the hiring occurred before his brother became prime minister, when Sánchez had been ousted as secretary general of Spain’s Socialist Party and was politically powerless. The former provincial president accused of ordering the rigging, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, testified that he had poor relations with Pedro Sánchez and had publicly backed his rival, making it unlikely he would help his brother.

Although Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office called for the charges to be dropped, the court brought the case to trial. The verdict, which the justices acknowledged rested solely on “circumstantial evidence,” convicted David Sánchez of administrative misconduct.

Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the conviction was orchestrated by those whose “sole purpose is to bring down a government that they were unable to defeat in elections.” Socialist Party spokesperson Patxi López called the proceedings a “witch hunt” and said the ruling “reaffirms the triumph of the far-right’s strategy.”

Pedro Sánchez has publicly admitted that legal pressure on his family has worn him down. In 2024, he briefly considered resigning after his wife, Begoña Gómez, was named in a separate criminal complaint by Manos Limpias. She is on track to stand trial for corruption and influence peddling.