The institutional clash between Congress (where the PSOE and its allies control the pace) and the Senate (where the PP makes and breaks thanks to its absolute majority) has been transferred to the two investigative committees that have been launched in parallel in both chambers regarding irregularities in the purchase of sanitary material during the pandemic. It is almost like a game of chess, where the Socialists and Populars are constantly watching each other’s moves. They monitor, counterprogram, and scrutinize each other’s actions. Both parties are strategically playing their moves in this complex game, convinced that it will influence the upcoming months of the legislature, with the opposition attempting to weaken the government starting on Monday with the beginning of testimonies in both locations.
A last-minute problem has arisen for the PP in the Senate. Their list of witnesses and requests for information go beyond the judicial investigation of the Koldo case and target Begoña Gómez, President Pedro Sánchez’s wife. The committee’s legal advisor warned that the scope of the inquiry regarding a “presumed criminal organization directly linked to the Sánchez government” and a “network of influence-peddling” related to his “political and family circle” exceeded the commission’s original scope as drafted for debate. This forced the conservative party to submit a new proposal for consideration in a forthcoming session to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the investigation, stated PP spokesperson Alicia García.
Despite the judge and prosecutor of the Koldo case ruling out Begoña Gómez’s involvement in the scandal, the PP continues to insist on her role in the matter. They have linked the Koldo and Delcy cases to the PSOE’s handling, adding to the tension in the investigations. While the Socialists are preparing to counter the attacks from the PP, they have proposed a broader committee in Congress to address the broader issues of responsibility and lessons learned in the procurement process of sanitary materials during the pandemic. The government party strategically plans to dilute the Koldo Garcia case among other scandals and demonstrate their commitment to addressing corruption within their ranks.
The battle between the two parties is also playing out between Congress and the Senate, with recent conflicts concerning scheduling of hearings. The PSOE and its allies announced this week that Salvador Illa, former Health Minister and Socialist candidate in the upcoming Catalan elections, will appear in the lower house’s committee on the same day as the PP’s hearing in the Senate, causing frustration among the conservatives. The PP’s plan to keep the investigation ongoing until next year signals their commitment to keeping the issue alive and constantly challenging the government. The PSOE’s proposal for a broader committee in Congress aims to steer the focus away from Koldo Garcia’s testimony and into a larger discussion on procurement processes during the pandemic.
The PP’s strategy in the Senate mirrors their approach in 2017 when they held the majority in that chamber but not in Congress. The conservative party initiated a parallel investigation in the Senate at that time to counter a commission set up by their opponents in the lower house regarding the alleged illegal financing of the PP. The PP used its majority in the Senate to call numerous witnesses, including opponents from other parties, in a move criticized of being biased and politically motivated. The echo of this strategy continues in the current investigations, with both parties engaged in a high-stakes game of political maneuvering and information disclosure.
