Losing Paradise: The Downfall of Santos Cerdán
Political figure Cerdán steps down from PSOE, relinquishes his seat in Congress, and forfeits previous positions.
Say goodbye to the cushy life of a parliamentarian, that's what former Socialist Organization Secretary Santos Cerdán is doing. He has thrown in the towel, handed in his resignation, and said adios to the PSOE party, all while maintaining his innocence, as reported by TVE. Pedro Sánchez, the party boss, nicely asked him to clean out his desk, and soon, a quartet led by PSOE President Cristina Narbona will take over till the July 5 Federal Committee.
Cerdán gave the heads-up to Judge Leopoldo Puente in writing, confirming his exit on Monday. His new attorney, Virginia Aragón Segura, spilled the beans to the Supreme Court after the judge petitioned for Cerdán's resignation last Friday. Countless socialist voices have demanded Cerdán's head, and the smart money was on him throwing in the towel last weekend.
The Congress Board will legitimize his resignation on Monday, and afterward, the Central Electoral Board will approve Cerdán's departure from Congress. Following that, Iván Cacho, the next name on the PSOE list for Navarre, will grab Cerdán's seat in the Cortes.
Cerdán bid farewell to his old lawyer, Gonzalo Martínez-Fresneda, who represented him while he was still a socialist representative. From here on out, Martínez-Fresneda will continue to represent the PSOE in the Koldo case.
Caught Red-Handed: The UCO Report
On Saturday, Cerdán was spotted at Ferraz when he announced his resignation as PSOE Organization Secretary and his intention to step down as a deputy in a missive to the press. This move allowed him to defend his innocence without sheltering behind the immunity he would have enjoyed as a member of Congress.
This decision came after the UCO report became public, hinting that Cerdán might have manipulated commissions in public works tenders favoring former Minister José Luis Ábalos and his ex-advisor, Koldo García.
Exit Stage Left: Life After Politics
Without the mask of Congress membership, Cerdán will have to show up in court on June 25, though he won't have to answer to the investigating judge. After losing his immunity, the option to voluntarily testify is off the table—it's only available to members of Congress.
Following his declaration, the investigating judge can impose preventative measures, and it's possible that he indicts Cerdán at any time after his immunity is confirmed.
The Judge Moves In
On the flip side, Judge Puente has moved up the date for Koldo García and José Luis Ábalo's summons to June 23, an initial date set for the 24th. The magistrate caved in to García's lawyer's request for a change in date because he claimed to have other testimonies lined up for the Central Court of Instruction No. 2 of the National Court on the day he was initially summoned as a former ministerial advisor.
Judge Puente has called both inmates after the latest report from the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard implicated them in bribes for allegedly irregular tenders, also pointing the finger at Cerdán. Thus, Ábalos was scheduled for 10:00 AM, while García's court date is at noon.
Enrichment Data:
After resigning as a deputy in Spain, Santos Cerdán loses his parliamentary immunity, which previously protected him from prosecution for certain offenses. Here is the process he will likely face:
Loss of Parliamentary Immunity
- Resignation: Santos Cerdán has resigned from his position as a deputy, which means he no longer holds the immunity that comes with being a member of parliament.
- Consequences: Without parliamentary immunity, Cerdán can be prosecuted like any other citizen for criminal offenses.
Legal Proceedings
- Investigation and Charges: The corruption allegations against Cerdán, including kickbacks and involvement in a slush fund for bribes, are under investigation by law enforcement agencies like the Civil Guard's Central Operative Unit (UCO).
- Court Appearance: Cerdán will appear in court to defend himself against the accusations. He has already informed the Supreme Court of his resignation and plans to defend his innocence.
Potential Outcomes
- Prosecution and Trial: If charged, Cerdán will face a trial, with the evidence against him being presented. The outcome could range from acquittal to conviction and potential imprisonment.
- Reputation and Political Impact: Regardless of the legal outcome, Cerdán's resignation and loss of immunity have already had significant political repercussions for the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The average Spanish citizen might follow the general news and politics, which has been abuzz with the resignation of Santos Cerdán, a former Socialist Organization Secretary and parliamentarian. Once Cerdán loses his parliamentary immunity, policy-and-legislation proceedings will likely ensue, as he faces charges related to kickbacks and involvement in a slush fund for bribes, based on ongoing investigations by the Civil Guard's Central Operative Unit (UCO).
