Rufián confronts Sánchez over Ábalos corruption conviction

During a parliamentary session on June 24, 2026, ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián directly challenged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over the corruption conviction of former minister José Luis Ábalos, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Rufián pressed Sánchez on whether he knew about the corruption, using the phrase "¿Usted sabía lo de Ábalos? ¿Tiene usted pecado? Menos caritas y no me cuente milongas" Source: Infobae. He recalled negotiating with Ábalos during Sánchez's 2018 investiture, stating "Su palabra era la palabra de Dios. Y Dios era Pedro Sánchez" Source: El Confidencial. Rufián criticized the government's reliance on a "y tú más" strategy, comparing past corruption under Felipe González and Mariano Rajoy but arguing that this does not absolve the current government Source: El Español. He warned that the PSOE's real problem is not with the opposition but with disillusioned supporters Source: Infobae. However, some opinion pieces note that despite the strong rhetoric, ERC has not taken concrete action to destabilize the government, reflecting a pattern of "hacer la puta y la Ramoneta"—hypocrisy and double moral standards Source: El Español. This divergence highlights the tension between rhetorical condemnation and political pragmatism among Sánchez's parliamentary allies.