Politics · Spain · 3 hrs ago
Sánchez returns to Valencia as corruption inquiry involving Ábalos intensifies
Pedro Sánchez is returning to campaign rallies in Valencia as Spain’s Socialist Party prepares for an election campaign.
The rally comes as a new corruption investigation involving José Luis Ábalos brings fresh scrutiny to Sánchez’s former close ally and a powerful figure in Valencia.
Investigators from Spain’s UCO police unit searched offices at Adif, the state rail infrastructure company, and Ábalos’s home in Valencia; his girlfriend was detained, as was his former driver.
The inquiry has put corruption back in the campaign spotlight just as Sánchez visits a city where Ábalos built much of his political influence.
Sánchez’s planned message focused on criticising former regional leader Carlos Mazón’s handling of the deadly dana floods, which killed 234 people, and on opposing the PP’s governing deals with Vox.
The new investigation complicates that message, while the supplied account gives no further details about what investigators will do next.
Pedro Sánchez returned to campaign rallies in Valencia amid a new corruption investigation involving former ally José Luis Ábalos.
The UCO searched Adif and Ábalos’s home in Valencia, and his girlfriend was detained.
The investigation also brought renewed attention to people who accompanied Sánchez during his 2017 primary campaign.
Sánchez’s rally was intended to focus on the consequences of a possible PP-Vox government and the handling of the dana disaster.
The PP accused Sánchez of exploiting the suffering caused by the disaster.
- Who
- Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, returned to campaigning in Valencia. The inquiry involves former ally José Luis Ábalos.
- What
- Sánchez held a campaign rally as a corruption investigation involving Ábalos intensified.
- When
- The rally was scheduled for the afternoon of November 5, 2026.
- Where
- Valencia, including the Polideportivo del Cabanyal.
- Why
- Sánchez’s campaign aimed to focus on the consequences of a PP-Vox government and the dana disaster. The investigation involving Ábalos also brought corruption into focus.
Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)
People’s Party (PP)
Use of the dana disaster
Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE)
PSOE figures have criticized the handling of the disaster under Carlos Mazón and presented it as an example of the consequences of PP-Vox agreements.
People’s Party (PP)
PP spokesperson Esther Muñoz accused Sánchez of using the suffering caused by the disaster.
Sánchez campaigned in the PSOE leadership primary with a group of people who are again drawing attention amid the inquiry.
Sánchez reappeared at a campaign event at the Polideportivo del Cabanyal.
The article says the campaign’s focus on Mazón was reinforced when Puente presented his resignation.
Sánchez was due to hold a rally in Valencia as the UCO investigation involving Ábalos drew renewed attention.
The person who had served as Sánchez’s driver, Cristian Corvillo, was detained.
- Rally attendance
- 2,500 party members
- Investigation agency
- UCO
- Search locations
- Adif and Ábalos’s home in Valencia
- Former ally under investigation
- José Luis Ábalos
- Driver detained
- Cristian Corvillo
- Disaster victims
- 234 victims of the dana
What people are saying
The Valencian Community will be the first trench of freedom and democracy against the policies of the right and the far right.
Sánchez is coming to use the pain of the dana.