Sánchez Backs Martínez Despite 2017 Support for Rival in PSOE Primaries

Sánchez Campaign Reportedly Received Support from Official Linked to Alleged Funding Scheme

Madrid – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez received support during his 2017 campaign to regain leadership of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) from Carlos Martínez, a candidate now being championed by Sánchez in the upcoming elections in Castile and León, according to reporting from El Mundo. Martínez reportedly backed Susana Díaz during the 2017 PSOE primaries.

This revelation comes amid scrutiny surrounding alleged clandestine financing of Sánchez’s 2017 campaign. Koldo García, a former ministerial advisor, has reportedly revealed a system involving the alleged use of immigrants to deposit donations of 300 euros each – a practice known as “pitufeo” or donation splitting – to finance the campaign, as reported by Derecha Diario.

The 2017 PSOE federal congress, held in Madrid between June 16th and 18th, saw Sánchez ultimately elected as party leader. The congress aimed to renovate the party’s governing bodies and establish its platform following a period of internal turmoil. Sánchez’s victory followed his removal as party leader in October 2016, which led to the appointment of a caretaker leadership committee.

The path to Sánchez’s 2017 win was not without significant internal conflict. The 2016 PSOE crisis, which began on September 26, 2016, saw a revolt within the party aimed at forcing Sánchez’s dismissal. This period, sometimes referred to as the “war of the roses,” resulted in a power vacuum and a shift in the party’s position on government formation, ultimately leading to a minority government led by the People’s Party (PP) after a ten-month deadlock. The situation also strained relations with the Socialists’ Party of Catalonia (PSC).

Susana Díaz, then President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, emerged as a prominent critic of Sánchez and a potential rival for the party’s leadership. Díaz led the largest and most important PSOE regional branch and held a significant institutional position within the party. A long-standing distrust and rivalry developed between Díaz and Sánchez following his election as Secretary-General, reportedly fueled by maneuvering to prevent Eduardo Madina from gaining leadership.

The 2015 and 2016 general elections resulted in the worst electoral results for the PSOE in recent history, increasing pressure on Sánchez. The 2017 congress represented an opportunity for the party to reset and chart a new course. The primary election, held on May 21, 2017, saw Sánchez secure 74,805 votes (49.9%) compared to Díaz’s 59,392 (39.6%) and Patxi López’s 14,652 (9.8%). Sánchez ultimately won the delegate vote, securing 674 votes (71.1%).

Reports indicate that Sánchez toured Spain in a Peugeot 407 with key campaign figures including Ábalos, Koldo and Cerdán during the 2017 primaries, reportedly spending €2,200 per day on the campaign. Koldo García, identified as the driver during this tour, is now at the center of allegations regarding the financing of the campaign, as detailed in a YouTube report.

Following his victory in 2017, Sánchez steered the PSOE to the left, a move that reportedly frustrated some within the ruling PP, with one official stating, “He’d sell his mother to become prime minister,” according to POLITICO.