Cerdán Denies Allegations
Santos Cerdán denies involvement in any plot or illegal actions at Tafalla courts
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Santos Cerdán, former number three of the PSOE, appeared at the courts of Tafalla on June 15 to fulfill a legal obligation — signing in on the 1st and 15th of every month. As journalists waited outside, he delivered a blunt denial: "Neither have I set up any plot, nor have I done anything illegal," according to Informacion.es and other outlets. The statement came just weeks after a judge formally indicted him for leading a criminal structure.
Cerdán spent 142 days in preventative prison at Soto del Real before the Supreme Court released him in November 2025. Since then, he has been required to surrender his passport and sign in at court twice a month. He now faces investigation across at least three separate judicial branches, with a total of nine alleged crimes, Diario de Mallorca reports.
Three Cases, Nine Crimes Against a Former PSOE Leader
Cerdán's legal troubles began in February 2024, when the "Caso Koldo" broke. His former protégé, Koldo García, was arrested for bribery tied to mask procurement contracts. Investigators later linked Cerdán to 2% commissions charged on public works contracts involving firm Servinabar and construction giant Acciona, according to El Correo Gallego.
By June 2025, Cerdán had resigned as PSOE's Secretary of Organization and been sent to prison. Then in May 2026, Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional formally indicted him in the "Caso Leire Díez." The judge accused Cerdán of holding a "strategic leadership role" in a criminal organization built to obstruct justice, La Provincia reports.
The 'Hiroruk' WhatsApp Group at the Center of the Plot
Judge Pedraz says the alleged criminal structure operated through a WhatsApp group called "Hiroruk" — meaning "the three of us" in Basque. The group included Leire Díez, former SEPI president Vicente Fernández, and businessman Antxon Alonso. Their alleged goal: use political influence to "torpedo" police and judicial investigations threatening the PSOE, according to El Periódico de Aragón.
Leire Díez, a former PSOE militant, is accused of managing the day-to-day operations — pressuring prosecutors and gathering sensitive information. The investigation also alleges attempts to influence public prosecutor José Grinda. Cerdán has consistently denied any wrongdoing, La Opinión de Zamora reports.
Cerdán's Own Lawyer Now Faces Criminal Investigation
The case took a dramatic turn on June 12, 2026. Judge Pedraz summoned Jacobo Teijelo — Cerdán's own defense lawyer — as a formal suspect. Teijelo is accused of revealing secrets and receiving €125,000 in irregular payments drawn from PSOE funds, according to El Correo Web.
Legal analysts call the move a "seismic event" in Spanish law. Indicting a defense attorney is rare. It suggests judges believe Teijelo actively participated in the alleged plot rather than simply providing legal counsel. Teijelo is scheduled to testify on June 25, 2026, LNE reports.
PSOE Distances Itself as PP Demands Elections
The PSOE has largely stepped back from Cerdán. Party spokespeople now say they "allow justice to act" and frame the alleged actions as strictly personal. This is despite evidence that PSOE funds paid for both Cerdán's legal defense and Leire Díez's activities, according to El Día.
The opposition People's Party (PP) has seized on the Tafalla court appearances as a symbol of what it calls the "decay of Sanchismo." The PP is demanding general elections and a full audit of the Ministry of Transport. Recent polling shows the PSOE trailing the PP by nearly 10 points, Diario Córdoba reports. A full trial is not expected before 2028 or 2029.
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