Spain's ruling party bans members from hiring sex workers amid corruption scandal

UPDATED: Jul 6, 2025 04:40 IST

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Snchez is battling the most serious political crisis of his seven-year tenure, following a corruption scandal that has rocked his Socialist party. In response, the party announced a major leadership shake-up on Saturday and introduced a new code of conduct banning members from paying for sex.

The scandal intensified earlier this week when Santos Cerdn, a senior party figure, was detained as part of an investigation involving alleged kickbacks and the use of sex workers.

To address the fallout, the Socialist party stated that “soliciting, accepting, or obtaining sexual acts in exchange for money” will now be grounds for expulsion.

"If we believe a woman's body is not for sale, our party cannot allow behaviour contrary to that," Sanchez said during a party meeting in Madrid, where he also issued an apology for placing trust in individuals now under investigation.

Despite mounting pressure, Snchez made it clear he will not resign.
“The captain doesn’t look the other way when seas get rough. He stays to steer the ship through the storm,” he told party leaders.

As part of the restructuring, lawyer Rebeca Torr, 44, was named to replace Cerdn as the party’s number three official. The meeting faced further delays after another Snchez ally, Francisco Salazar, resigned before assuming a leadership role amid accusations of inappropriate behaviour from former female staff.

The scandal has also drawn in former transport minister Jos Luis balos, who has been linked to the alleged kickbacks scheme.

Meanwhile, the conservative opposition People’s Party (PP) seized the moment to contrast itself with the embattled government.
“We’re the only alternative to this state of decline,” said PP leader Alberto Nez Feijo, vowing to provide a government that serves rather than deceives citizens.

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(With inputs from AFP)