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 a series of payments amounting to a minimum of €620,000 related to certain governmental contracts granted to Acciona. These financial transactions were said to be organized via intermediaries connected to Ábalos and his close collaborator Koldo García, with the entire 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 Customized to Benefit 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 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
An essential aspect of the UCO investigation involves Santos Cerdán’s involvement. The report claims that Cerdán was aware of the bribery operation and orchestrated the handling and allocation of funds. Documented conversations and witness accounts indicate that he was the key political player coordinating the connection between business interests and senior political power.
Based on the findings of the researchers, Cerdán was responsible for managing the talks, distributing shares, and serving as the intermediary between the granting officials and the recipients of the plan.
Institutional Silence and Internal Reviews
Acciona has begun an internal investigation, making a public effort to separate itself from any misconduct. An ex-executive, reportedly connected to the plan, has already departed from the firm. While Acciona denies knowledge of any misconduct, the UCO report indicates the opposite, depicting a scenario where the company either engaged in or ignored unethical behavior.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the government has made no formal statement. Within the PSOE, the matter has become an open wound, especially after recent high-profile resignations triggered by earlier phases of the corruption investigation.
The UCO report leaves little doubt: Acciona was allegedly part of a broader, politically engineered system designed to extract bribes in exchange for multimillion-euro public contracts. If confirmed, this case would expose a deep corruption network rooted not only in party operatives but in the institutions responsible for managing public resources.
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.
