Spanish Prime Minister's Brother Receives 9-Year Ban from Public Office

The brother of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, David Sanchez, has been banned from public office for 9 years due to allegations of abuse of influence and administrative irregularities in his appointment as 'coordinator of conservatory activities' at the Badajoz Provincial Council. The Badajoz Provincial Court ruled that David Sanchez was guilty of participating in the crime of misuse of public office. Having been acquitted of the requested 3-year prison sentence, David Sanchez has the right to appeal the ban from public office. The appointment of the Prime Minister's brother to a position in 2017, despite being unemployed at the time and having 10 other applications rejected, raised questions about the use of influence. This development, combined with the ongoing investigation into the Prime Minister's wife Begona Gomez, has brought the family into the public spotlight. Gomez is under investigation for allegations of 'abuse of influence, corruption in business, embezzlement, and misuse of public office'.