David Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, brother of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has presented this Wednesday his unilateral resignation to his contract as head of the Office of Performing Arts of the Provincial Council of Badajoz. The decision has been formalized through a letter registered in the provincial institution, as has advanced the newspaper Hoy and have confirmed sources of the Provincial Council itself to Europa Press.
Ongoing research
Sánchez Pérez-Castejón is being investigated by the Court of Instruction number 3 of Badajoz for his hiring in the Provincial Council, in the framework of a case that analyzes possible crimes of prevarication, influence peddling, embezzlement and other crimes against the Public Administration and the Public Treasury.
The controversy surrounding his appointment has generated a considerable political stir, especially since it became known that the selection process by which he obtained his contract is under judicial suspicion.
The impact of the resignation
His departure from the Provincial Council coincides with the progress of the investigation, which has increased the media and political pressure on the case. Different sectors have demanded explanations about the conditions under which he was hired and the extent of his responsibility in the facts he is accused of.
For the moment, neither David Sanchez nor the Provincial Council have made official statements beyond confirming the resignation. Nor has there been any pronouncement from the Government of Pedro Sanchez on the resignation of his brother.
Next steps in the case
The judicial process is still ongoing and it is expected that in the coming weeks new decisions will be taken that could clarify his degree of involvement. In the meantime, his resignation does not imply the closing of the case, so the case is still open in court.
Origin of the research
The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed in May 2024 by the union Manos Limpias, which alleged irregularities in the creation and awarding of the position held by Sánchez Pérez-Castejón. According to the complaint, the position would have been created specifically for him, without following the usual selection procedures.
Case development
In January 2025, David Sanchez testified before the Court of Instruction number 3 of Badajoz, defending the legality of his hiring and denying any type of favored treatment. He claimed to have found out about the job offer through an internet search and assured that he met all the requirements for the position.
However, the investigating judge, Beatriz Biedma, has considered that there are indications that the position may have been created ad hoc to benefit the president’s brother, and has expanded the investigation by requesting more documentation and summoning new witnesses.
Resignation and reactions
David Sanchez’s resignation comes in a context of increasing media and political pressure. Sources from the Diputación de Badajoz have pointed out that the situation was affecting Sánchez emotionally and hindering his professional performance, as some companies were reluctant to collaborate with his department due to the controversy.
The judicial declaration
In January 2025, David Sánchez Pérez-Castejón appeared before the Court of Instruction number 3 of Badajoz, presided over by Judge Beatriz Biedma, to testify as an investigated for alleged irregularities in his hiring at the Provincial Council of Badajoz.
During his deposition, Sanchez claimed to have found the job offer through a Google search while completing a master’s degree in Milan in 2017. However, when asked about the functions and location of the Performing Arts Office she headed, she showed hesitation, indicating that she could not specify specific details about her job position or duties.
Main elements of suspicion in your statement
🔹 He did not know the exact location of his office: When the judge asked him where the Performing Arts Office was physically located, Pedro Sanchez’s brother was hesitant and could not pinpoint its exact location.
🔹 Inability to detail her duties: In another key moment of her statement, Sanchez failed to clearly explain the specific responsibilities she performed in her position, merely stating that she coordinated cultural events without going into specific details.
🔹 Hiring process under suspicion: According to his statement, he found out about the job offer through a Google search while he was finishing a master’s degree in Milan, a claim that has raised doubts among investigators, since the position was not published in official bulletins or in the usual employment portals of the public administration.
🔹 A post “tailor-made” for the president’s brother: The judicial investigation points to the fact that the position was designed with a tailor-made profile for David Sanchez, which could constitute a case of administrative prevarication.
