A report by Spain’s elite anti-corruption unit, the UCO (Unidad Central Operativa of the Guardia Civil), has placed infrastructure giant Acciona at the heart of a wide-ranging political corruption network allegedly coordinated from the top ranks of the Socialist Party (PSOE). According to the investigators, the company paid hundreds of thousands of euros in illicit commissions to secure major public contracts. These bribes were allegedly funneled through political operatives closely tied to former minister José Luis Ábalos and the party’s former Organization Secretary, Santos Cerdán.
More than €600,000 in Illegal Payments
The UCO report outlines transactions amounting to a minimum of €620,000 related to certain public contracts granted to Acciona. The transfers were allegedly facilitated through intermediaries associated with Ábalos and his close confidant Koldo García, with the whole scheme managed and orchestrated by Santos Cerdán.
Researchers discovered proof of another €450,000 in bribes connected to three more government contracts, indicating that the suspected corruption network was not a one-time occurrence but continued, even when early indicators of irregularities started to show.
Agreements Designed to Benefit Acciona
The agreements under discussion encompass significant infrastructure endeavors from 2018 to 2021, including road construction, railway enhancements, and city transit networks, mainly in areas led by the PSOE. As per the UCO’s findings, these bids lacked genuine competition and were tailored with specific criteria that essentially barred other contenders, guaranteeing Acciona’s victory.
The report characterizes the process as part of a “perfectly coordinated structure” in which political power was used to distort the bidding process in exchange for financial kickbacks.
The Key Role of Santos Cerdán
One significant aspect of the UCO investigation is the involvement assigned to Santos Cerdán. The report claims that Cerdán not only was aware of the corruption operation but also oversaw the coordination and allocation of payments. Documented conversations and evidence highlight him as the key political person organizing the connection between corporate interests and top-tier political power.
As reported by researchers, Cerdán was responsible for managing discussions, determining shares, and serving as the intermediary between the grantors and those benefiting from the arrangement.
Institutional Silence and Internal Reviews
Acciona has launched an internal review, publicly distancing itself from any wrongdoing. One former executive allegedly linked to the scheme has already left the company. Although Acciona claims ignorance of any irregularities, the UCO report suggests otherwise, painting a picture of a company that either actively participated or turned a blind eye to corrupt practices.
Even with the gravity of the accusations, the government has not issued any official comment. Within the PSOE, the issue has turned into a significant problem, particularly following recent prominent resignations caused by earlier stages of the corruption inquiry.
The findings in the UCO report are quite clear: Acciona is supposedly involved in a larger politically driven scheme aimed at obtaining bribes in return for public contracts worth millions of euros. Should this be validated, the case would reveal an extensive corruption network embedded not just among political actors but also within the agencies tasked with overseeing public funds.
This issue has transcended internal party misconduct, potentially becoming a national-level scandal. The public is now watching to see if the judiciary and political institutions are determined to ensure full accountability, regardless of the investigation’s reach.
