Spanish court upholds archiving of banner case calling PM Sánchez corrupt

The Audiencia Provincial de Madrid has confirmed the archiving of the criminal case against Hazte Oír for displaying a large banner in Madrid that called Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez "corrupto", ruling that the banner constituted political criticism protected by freedom of speech Source: infobae, Source: elespanol.

The banner, placed in May 2025 opposite the Congress of Deputies, featured Sánchez's image with a wilted rose and references to ongoing judicial cases involving his environment, such as the case Begoña, the Ábalos case, and proceedings against his brother Source: elespanol. The organization Hazte Oír was initially denounced by the PSOE for alleged criminal insult and defamation.

Court's reasoning

The court acknowledged that the word "corrupto" in isolation could be a serious insult, but in this context it was associated with specific judicial proceedings. Therefore, the intent was not to insult but to express political criticism, which is protected under freedom of expression Source: infobae, Source: elespanol. The judges also noted that the banner did not promote violence or hate speech Source: elespanol.

Key points

• The case was initially archived by a lower court in February 2026; the appeal by Sánchez and the PSOE has now been rejected Source: infobae.
• The banner referenced several high-profile cases, including the investigation into Sánchez's wife Begoña Gómez, the conviction of former minister José Luis Ábalos, and the disqualification of former Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz Source: elespanol.