In Catalonia, ERC has said it would demand general elections if allegations of illegal funding against the PSOE are proven. Gabriel Rufián, the party’s spokesperson in the Spanish Congress, said on 27 May 2026 that this would be a “red line” and that “people should decide” at the ballot box.
The comments came after searches by the Guardia Civil’s Central Operative Unit, known as the UCO, at the PSOE’s central headquarters. Officers are looking for information and documents linked to an alleged illegal financing network within the party. Spanish media reports say the UCO also has warrants to inspect properties belonging to senior PSOE officials across Spain.
The Spanish National Court authorised the operation, which has the backing of the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office. For background on the party involved, see the PSOE’s official site at psoe.es, and the Guardia Civil at guardiacivil.es.
Rufián also said these investigations can take a long time and warned that, at this stage, it is not clear what information is factual and what is not. The case adds to scrutiny of political party finances in Spain, with possible consequences for the stability of the current government.
Further developments are expected as the Guardia Civil continues its searches and reviews seized documents. For more Catalonia-wide political coverage, see our news page.