A document from Spain’s top anti-corruption agency, known as the UCO (Central Operational Unit of the Guardia Civil), has identified infrastructure behemoth Acciona as central to an extensive political graft network purportedly orchestrated by senior officials of the Socialist Party (PSOE). The authorities claim that the company disbursed large sums in unlawful commissions to obtain significant government contracts. These payments were reportedly routed through political figures closely associated with former minister José Luis Ábalos and the party’s ex-Organization Secretary, Santos Cerdán.
Over €600,000 in Illicit 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 found clues about an extra €450,000 in pending kickbacks linked to three more public agreements, indicating that the suspected corruption ring was not limited to a single instance but was continuing, despite initial warnings of inconsistencies emerging.
Contracts Tailored to Favor Acciona
The agreements under discussion encompass major infrastructure initiatives carried out from 2018 to 2021, including roads, railway constructions, and public transport networks, mostly in areas managed by the PSOE. As reported by the UCO, these bids were manipulated with specific technical criteria that effectively barred competitors, securing Acciona’s victory.
The document describes the proceedings as being a part of a “flawlessly organized framework” where political influence was leveraged to manipulate the bidding procedure in return for monetary bribes.
Santos Cerdán’s Central Role
One of the most damning elements of the UCO investigation is the role attributed to Santos Cerdán. The report alleges that Cerdán not only had knowledge of the bribery scheme but directly managed the flow and distribution of payments. Recorded communications and testimony point to him as the central political figure orchestrating the relationship between business interests and high-level political influence.
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.
Quietude in Institutions and Internal Evaluations
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 moved beyond internal party misconduct—it’s now a potential national-level scandal. The public is now watching to see if the judicial system and political bodies have the determination to seek complete accountability, no matter how far the inquiry extends.
