PSOE's Santos Cerdán to Resign Amid Corruption Allegations
Santos Cerdán, the former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, has announced that he will resign from his position as deputy next Monday, thereby relinquishing the parliamentary immunity that protects active members of Congress. In a brief conversation with Navarra's Diario de Noticias, Cerdán emphasized his intention to demonstrate his innocence without the shield of immunity, stating, "I do not want to make use of the immunity to demonstrate my innocence."
His announcement comes shortly after the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard linked him to the receipt of illegal commissions. Though he stated his intention to resign last Thursday, he was unable to submit his resignation in a timely manner, missing deadlines on both Friday and Saturday, with only the option to do so on Monday.
Meanwhile, Paca Sauquillo, the president of PSOE in Madrid, expressed that the party is in shock following the UCO report. She has called for Cerdán to resign immediately, saying, "We cannot believe what could happen. First because we have always fought against corruption and zero corruption. But also those messages that are given against women which I do not understand," before she attended a rally in Madrid.
The political landscape surrounding Cerdán has intensified, with Dolors Montserrat, Secretary General of the PPE and PP MEP, publicly criticizing the former PSOE leader. Montserrat suggested that Cerdán's delay in resigning is an attempt to obstruct justice and suggested that he may destroy evidence tied to the allegations. In a message on social media platform X, she stated, "Santos Cerdán does not renounce his mandate to block justice and clean up his house like a good mafioso. He may destroy evidence, but he will no longer be able to erase the crimes."
The gravity of Cerdán's situation has implications for the PSOE party and raises significant questions about accountability within political organizations. As the situation unfolds, the party's handling of the allegations against Cerdán and their commitment to combatting corruption will be under scrutiny.
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