Spanish PM's brother's conviction could be 'lawfare,' says EH Bildu

EH Bildu's congress spokesperson, Mertxe Aizpurua, suggested that the conviction of David Sánchez, brother of the Spanish Prime Minister, might be a case of 'lawfare.' She stated that "lawfare" has previously affected "the Basque left, Catalonia, and Podemos," and now "it's the PSOE's turn." Aizpurua commented on the conviction by the Badajoz Court, which sentenced David Sánchez to nine years of disqualification from public office. She noted, "I have not read the sentence. From what I can interpret, it seems to be based on hypotheses rather than evidence." She further alleged a "political operation" targeting the Prime Minister, driven by "power structures" acting when they perceive something they deem "unshakeable" to be at risk. Aizpurua also expressed skepticism about the anti-corruption investigation, suggesting the UCO (Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard) is motivated more by "political impulse than democratic regeneration." Regarding domestic politics, Aizpurua acknowledged that the central government is unlikely to pass the state budget, which she believes would serve as the "argument" for advancing general elections. She also accused the leader of the Basque socialists, Eneko Andueza, of creating a "false dichotomy" by linking EH Bildu and the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) to the term "national priority." Aizpurua defended the agreement with the PNV on reforming the Public Employment Law, stating its aim is to "broaden rights" and ensure equal conditions for Basque and Spanish speakers, asserting it is "in no case prioritizing." She expressed a desire for continued agreements with the PNV on "fundamental issues." Addressing EH Bildu's proposal for a joint list in the general elections, Aizpurua warned of a "grave risk" if the right and far-right come to power.

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may be lawfare