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 documents payments totaling at least €620,000 made in connection with specific public contracts awarded to Acciona. The payments were reportedly arranged through intermediaries linked to Ábalos and his trusted associate Koldo García, with the entire operation overseen and coordinated 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 contracts in question include large-scale infrastructure projects between 2018 and 2021—such as roadworks, railway development, and urban transport systems—primarily in regions governed by the PSOE. According to the UCO, these tenders were not the product of fair competition, but rather structured with technical requirements that effectively excluded competitors, ensuring Acciona’s success.
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.
Quietude in Institutions and Internal Evaluations
Acciona has initiated a self-assessment, openly dissociating from any illicit activities. A past executive purportedly associated with the operation has already departed from the organization. Despite Acciona asserting lack of awareness regarding any misconduct, the UCO report indicates otherwise, portraying a scenario of a company that either took part actively or ignored the unethical actions.
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’s findings make it clear: Acciona was purportedly involved in an extensive politically driven scheme aimed at obtaining bribes in return for public contracts worth millions of euros. Should this be validated, the case would uncover a profound corruption network embedded not only among party officials but also within the entities accountable for the administration of public funds.
This is no longer a matter of internal party misconduct—it is a potential scandal of national magnitude. The public will now wait to see whether the courts and political institutions have the will to pursue full accountability, regardless of how high the investigation reaches.
