Politics · Spain · 4 hrs ago
Spain's Court of Accounts starts process over €427,000 in public pay
Spain's Court of Accounts is starting proceedings that could recover public money paid to David Sánchez, the brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and his friend Luis María Carrero.
The payments were made for jobs in the provincial government of Badajoz, in western Spain.
A court in Badajoz found the hiring irregular and handed down criminal convictions in July; it said the Court of Accounts could examine whether public funds should be repaid.
Official figures put the payments to Sánchez at about €340,572 and to Carrero at about €86,989, or at least €427,561 in total before interest.
The provincial government opposes opening the case, although it is the body that paid the money.
A court-appointed investigator will now examine whether the two men have accounting liability; if a case proceeds, they could be ordered to repay the money, and their assets could be frozen in advance.
Spain’s Court of Accounts has notified parties that it is preparing to open proceedings over €427,561.12 paid to David Sánchez and Luis María Carrero.
The process could lead to recovery of public money, plus interest, if the court finds accounting liability.
The payments followed hiring that the Badajoz Provincial Court ruled was irregular.
The Badajoz Provincial Council opposes opening the case, while the public prosecutor at the Court of Accounts has not opposed the initial step.
The Court of Accounts proceedings follow criminal convictions handed down by the Badajoz Provincial Court in July.
- Who
- Spain’s Court of Accounts is preparing the proceedings. The payments were made to David Sánchez and Luis María Carrero.
- What
- The court is starting a process that could require repayment of public money.
- When
- The court notified the parties shortly before the article was published on 24 October 2026. The criminal convictions were handed down in July.
- Where
- Badajoz, Spain.
- Why
- The proceedings will examine whether accounting liability arose from payments linked to hiring that the Badajoz Provincial Court ruled was irregular.
Recovery advocates
Badajoz Provincial Council
Opening the case
Recovery advocates
The PP, Vox, Iustitia Europa and Hazte Oír seek recovery of the public money.
Badajoz Provincial Council
The council opposes starting the case and says there is no justification for it.
Responsibility for pursuing recovery
Recovery advocates
The advocates want the council to recover the payments to Sánchez and Carrero.
Badajoz Provincial Council
The council, described as the allegedly harmed party, does not support the Court of Accounts process.
The Badajoz Provincial Court handed down criminal convictions related to the case.
The Court of Accounts notified the parties that it was preparing to open proceedings.
- Payments at issue
- €427,561.12, before interest and other possible costs
- David Sánchez
- €340,572.36 paid between 10 July 2017 and 4 May 2025
- Luis María Carrero
- €86,988.76
- Court of Accounts official
- Elena Hernáez is to handle the case
- Other possible costs
- Social contributions, compensation, expenses and additional staffing costs are not included in the stated total
What people are saying
Vamos a solicitar todos los informes en que se basa la Diputación para no querer recuperar el dinero