The case revealed today by the Spanish press exposes one of the most scandalous stains in the already deteriorated management of Pedro Sánchez and his entourage of socialist ministers. The Government has officially acknowledged that the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agendacovered all expenses for the trip and stay of José Luis Ábalos and his team at the Parador of Teruel on September 15 and 16, 2020, when Spain was experiencing the most critical moment of the COVID pandemic.
During those days, employees of the establishment confirmed that a party with prostitutes was held, which ended with damage to the suites reserved by ministry officials. Although the Executive and the director of the parador himself, Joaquín Gutiérrez, deny it, the testimonies of workers and official documentation contradict the official version.
Pedro Sánchez admitió haber pagado con fondos públicos por la fiesta con prostitutas
The matter reached Congress in April of this year, when the VOX Parliamentary Group demanded explanations regarding the details of the expenses, including accommodation, consumption, and possible damages. The Government's response, far from dispelling doubts, avoided providing clear figures but did admit that it was the ministry itself that paid all the bills.
The justification was blunt: "The expenses of the minister and his team, as it was an official trip in the performance of their duties, were covered by the Ministry of Transport." In other words, the questioned Ábalos party was directly financed with citizens' taxes.
Records reveal that on that same night, the current Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría, also stayed at the parador, with a bill of just 77 euros, in contrast to the scandalous amount of 1,150 euros declared by Ábalos. Curiously, the ministry itself later corrected the former minister's expense to 292.12 euros, a reduction that raises even more suspicions.
Pedro Sánchez admitió haber pagado con fondos públicos por la fiesta con prostitutas
The Civil Guard is already investigating whether part of the per diems declared by Ábalos and his team on different official trips could have been used as covert bonuses, after finding indications of possible fraud in the reimbursement system. According to the documentation, the ministry went so far as to reserve eight rooms through El Corte Inglés. Ábalos stayed in suite 101, with capacity for six people. The director of the parador keeps that the minister occupied the room alone and that "there were no meetings," although he admits that there are no cameras to verify who entered or left.
The Government insists that "no damages occurred", despite testimonies indicating otherwise and the existence of a letter—supported by the Partido Popular—in which silence was requested regarding what happened. Nevertheless, the Executive avoids giving explanations in its parliamentary responses and limits itself to stating that "it is not aware" that the events took place.
