Spain’s Supreme Court has sentenced former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos to 24 years in prison for corruption, a verdict that underscores the intensifying legal challenges facing the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Ábalos, who served as a key figure in the Socialist administration, was found guilty of multiple charges including membership in a criminal organization, bribery, embezzlement, and trafficking in influence.
The conviction represents one of the most high-profile political corruption cases in recent Spanish history, directly implicating a former senior minister in systemic graft.
While the court imposed a 24-year sentence, Spanish penal code provisions mean Ábalos will serve a maximum of 16 years and six months.
The ruling follows a lengthy judicial process that has scrutinized the intersection of political power and public contracting during his tenure.
The verdict is likely to exert political pressure on the Sánchez government, which has faced scrutiny over its handling of corruption allegations within its ranks.