The investigation known as Operation Delorme has sent shockwaves through Spanish politics, reaching the upper echelons of government and implicating key figures who once managed the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). The probe, led by the Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Civil Guard, centers on alleged bribery connected to mask sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eleven individuals are under investigation, with the primary figure being Koldo García Izaguirre, a former political adviser to José Luis Ábalos Meco. Ábalos served as Minister of Public Works and Transport in the first two administrations of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and held the influential position of PSOE organizational secretary from 2017 to 2021. This party role gave him control over internal discipline and regional networks.
Santos Cerdán León succeeded Ábalos in that position, holding it from 2021 to 2025. Both men have been named in the proceedings. The alleged bribery network extended beyond a single ministry, reportedly reaching into multiple government departments.
The case has already triggered political fallout, with the opposition demanding answers. The scandal strikes at the core of Sánchez’s inner circle, targeting individuals who organized the party, managed its finances, and controlled its regional barons.
The timing poses significant challenges for the government. Spain continues to recover from the pandemic’s economic damage, and public recollection of mask shortages and urgent procurement remains vivid. The legal process could stretch over years, given the pace of the Spanish judicial system.
However, political repercussions do not wait for court resolutions. The opposition has already seized on the case, and every parliamentary session, press conference, and news cycle is expected to revisit the matter.
The PSOE must balance its governing responsibilities with defending itself against the allegations. The investigation’s name carries a historical irony. Operation Delorme references Charles de Lorme, a French physician who pioneered the use of masks by medical staff to prevent disease transmission.
The same life-saving tool now forms the basis of a probe into masks sold for profit. Koldo García, the central accused, served as a political adviser to Ábalos.
His role was advisory in nature, not involving procurement or health official duties. Nonetheless, the investigation alleges his involvement in a bribery network that sold masks during the health crisis. The courts will determine how the network operated, who made payments to whom, and where the funds went.
For now, the political consequences are evident: the Sánchez government faces a significant challenge, the PSOE is on the defensive, and the opposition has intensified its attacks. The public remains attentive as the case intertwines the pandemic, the party, and the prime minister.
