• Spanish police searched the Socialist Party's headquarters as part of a corruption investigation.
• Former PM Zapatero and multiple party officials are under investigation for alleged wrongdoing.
• PM Pedro Sanchez asserts cooperation with authorities amid political pressure.

Police in Spain have conducted searches at the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE) as part of a broader investigation into alleged corruption involving the government. The inquiry involves accusations of various serious offences, including belonging to a criminal organization, bribery, and influence peddling, among others. Judge Santiago Pedraz ordered the police to collect documents relevant to the investigation targeting various former PSOE members, including Leire Diez, who is implicated in a potential misinformation campaign aimed at obstructing judicial proceedings, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

The political atmosphere has become increasingly tense as investigations continue to circle Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government. Former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been placed under formal investigation for allegedly using his influence to facilitate a government airline bailout. This investigation adds to the scrutiny faced by multiple party members, including Sanchez's family, as allegations of corruption appear to deepen, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

Amid these scandals, the leader of the opposition conservative People's Party (PP), Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has accused Sanchez's government of having a "stink of corruption," and he has called for early elections. Furthermore, he expressed concern over the frequency of police raids and allegations surrounding the government, including on Sanchez's immediate family members, who are also facing inquiries over influence peddling. Yet, Sanchez has maintained that he will complete his term and expressed confidence in the integrity of his party, emphasizing their cooperation with judicial processes, according to Reuters and BBC.