Spain’s Central Electoral Board (JEC) has opened disciplinary proceedings against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez over remarks he made at a press conference on October 6, raising concerns about the use of official government platforms during an election campaign.
The proceedings followed a complaint by the opposition People’s Party (PP), which alleged that Sanchez used government facilities to deliver campaign-style messages during a press conference held after a cabinet meeting to announce new housing legislation.
According to the parliamentary press office, the electoral board requested the removal of the statements from official government channels and directed Sanchez to refrain from similar actions during the campaign period.
The case comes after Sanchez called a snap election for November 29 following parliament’s rejection of housing decrees.
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The proceedings place renewed attention on the requirement for political officeholders to maintain institutional neutrality during election campaigns, particularly in their use of public resources and official events.
The JEC has previously sanctioned Sanchez over similar conduct. In January 2020, it fined him €500 over a television interview published on the government’s website.
In October 2023, the board also fined him €2,200 over remarks made at a press conference in Brussels during the July 23 election campaign, ruling that he had promoted his government’s achievements while criticising political opponents.
Carlos Fernández Carriedo, a spokesperson for a regional government led by the PP, was also fined €2,200 in 2023 over comments made during a post-cabinet press conference.
The latest proceedings will determine whether Sanchez breached electoral rules through his October 6 remarks.
