18 Ex-PSOE Officials Indicted in Santana Motor Funding Probe

Judge José Ignacio Vilaplana has expanded the Santana Motor corruption investigation by indicting 18 former Andalusian government officials, including Juan María González Mejías, a nephew of former Prime Minister Felipe González, and Francisco del Río, the long-serving head of the regional legal office. The inquiry centers on the Plan Linares Futuro, a program launched after the 2011 closure of the Linares car plant to support 750 former workers.

The court alleges that the PSOE-led administration used the public agency IDEA to channel funds irregularly, bypassing standard fiscal controls. Sources indicate the government spent over €600 million attempting to rescue the company, with specific focus on €44 million transferred via IDEA to pay for early retirements and indemnities without proper legal frameworks Source: El Mundo. The judge describes these transfers as an "illicit transfer" of public funds to entities like Incuba and Fasur, which then paid out anticipos to workers Source: El Español.

Key figures named include:

• Antonio Ávila Cano: Former Economy Minister (2010–2013) and confidant of ex-president José Antonio Griñán Source: ABC.
• Francisco del Río: Founder of the Junta’s Legal Office (1982–2012) Source: ABC.
• Juan María González Mejías: Held three general-secretary-level roles between 2010 and 2012 Source: ABC.

The charges include administrative prevarication, embezzlement, and document forgery. While some outlets highlight the total €600 million loss associated with the broader rescue attempt, others specify the €44 million directly linked to the irregular IDEA transfers for worker payouts Source: El Mundo; Source: El Español. Declarations are scheduled for late November and early December, preceding the general elections on November 29 Source: ABC.