World

Spanish police search Socialist Party HQ in widening graft probe

By Rodrigo Orihuela and Thomas Gualtieri, Bloomberg News The Tribune Content Agency

Updated May 27, 2026 7:01 AM

Spanish National Police officers stand guard outside the ruling Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) headquarters after agents from the UCO, the Civil Guard unit specializing in complex and sensitive investigations, entered the premises to demand documents, in Madrid, on May 27, 2026. Spanish police entered the Madrid headquarters of the ruling Socialist party today to request documents as part of a probe into alleged illegal party financing, judicial and police sources said. The operation adds to mounting pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez after former Socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was put under formal investigation last week for influence peddling and other crimes in another case. (Oscar Del Pozo/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) Oscar Del Pozo TNS

Spanish police seized information from the ruling Socialist Party's headquarters, as part of a broad criminal investigation that's gripping the country and roiling the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Officers of the Civil Guard, one of the country's main security forces, entered the party's main office in Madrid early Wednesday to request that certain information be handed over, according to public TV broadcaster RTVE. The party is collaborating fully with the police, party spokesperson Montserrat Mínguez said in an interview with Catalunya Radio.

The search is the latest development in a series of high-profile criminal investigations hitting people close to the government, including at least one former minister and former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero - who is also highly popular among Socialist grassroots. Wednesday's search is linked to a corruption case involving a former high-ranking member of the party.

The image of police searching a party's office carries special symbolism in Spanish politics with Sánchez's government having over the years repeatedly criticized the center-right People's Party for its history with slush funds. In 2013, the PP's headquarters was searched by police as part of a graft investigation.

In 2018, Sánchez led the first ever successful no-confidence vote to remove the PP from government. At the time, he based a large part of his bid to lead the country on anti-corruption pledges, and the 2013 raid was a crucial element of his campaign.

Although the PP and other opposition parties have said Sánchez should call elections given the number of open criminal investigations, so far the PP has not said it plans to seek a no-confidence vote. The PP is the largest party in parliament, but needs support from others to form a majority to govern.

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-With assistance from Clara Hernanz Lizarraga.

This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 6:38 AM.

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