Spain's PM Sanchez is using Gaza to save his skin - SDF Chatter

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/43149585 [https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/43149585] > Archived [https://web.archive.org/web/20250929044220/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/26/sanchez-using-gaza-save-skin-spain-left-right-israel-gaza/] > > […] > > Spain became one of the first European countries to approve a full arms embargo on Israel as Mr Sanchez again grasped a rare leadership role for Madrid in world affairs. > > But he is also using Israel’s war in Gaza to save his political skin in a country that is, with Ireland, the most pro-Palestinian in Europe. > > Experts predict that he will try to […] draw a line under the corruption scandal engulfing his Socialist party (PSOE). > > Months of accusations of cronyism and fraud have threatened his fragile coalition government and have touched some of the 53-year-old’s closest allies – not to mention his wife and brother. > > This week, a court ruled that his brother, David, will stand trial after taking a well-paid government job that was allegedly created for him by party officials. > > Separately, a judge indicated that Begona Gomez, the prime minister’s wife, would face a court hearing over accusations she embezzled state funds to pay for a personal assistant. [Begona Gomez refused to show Saturday at a hearing meant to formally notify her she should face trial, according to reports citing a legal source at the appointment.] > > […] > > Spain is starkly polarised, and locked in a culture war between the Right and Left. At the last election in 2023, fragmented Left-wing parties obtained a combined vote share of 47.9 per cent. Right-wing parties achieved 47.2 per cent, with the centre-Right Partido Popular (PP) winning the most votes but falling short of a majority. > > […] > > In addition, Spain cane under fire for contracting Huawei to store judicial wiretaps by its EU partners. [https://web.archive.org/web/20250807060822/https://securityaffairs.com/179884/intelligence/spain-awarded-e12-3-million-in-contracts-to-huawei.html] The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has awarded €12.3 million ($14.3 million) contracts to manage and store judicially authorized wiretaps used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, raising concerns about potential Chinese government access due to the company’s ties to Beijing.