Which Ministries of Pedro Sánchez Funded His Brother's Opera Project?

David Sánchez, brother of the President of the Government, visited key ministries to gain support for his cultural projects.

According to emails intercepted by the UCO, he traveled to Madrid to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Ministry of Culture.

His goal was to obtain funding and institutional support for various initiatives, including his opera program at the Legislature de Badajoz.

The seized documents show several trips made in November and December 2023. In his emails, David Sánchez justified these trips with meetings related to the "Ópera Joven" project and collaboration with the Teatro Real.

These trips, made in a private vehicle, were recorded so that the Legislature de Badajoz would cover the mileage expenses.

A Program of More Than Six Million with Ministerial Support

David Sánchez promoted several projects with support from the central government. One of the most notable is "Operegrina," a program budgeted at more than six million euros.

This plan had the backing of the Ministry of Culture. In April 2023, a protocol was signed alongside the Legislature de Badajoz, the Junta de Extremadura, and the Federación Española de Universidades Populares.

The Ministry of Culture involved high-ranking officials in the negotiations, such as Olivié Bayón, then Deputy Director General of International Relations and the European Union.

Currently, Bayón is an advisor at the Legislature de Barcelona. The president's brother personally oversaw the development of "Operegrina," strengthening his connection with the involved ministries.

Another project in which David Sánchez participated was the proposal for the creation of a Territorial Innovation Center in Villanueva del Fresno (Badajoz).

This plan was presented to the Ministry of Ecological Transition, then led by Teresa Ribera, now a European Commissioner.

In an email addressed to colleagues at the Legislature, David Sánchez shared a working document for a meeting with ministerial representatives.

In the message, he detailed how they had incorporated suggestions from the CIT of Teruel, which they had previously received from the ministry itself.

The Role of a Former La Moncloa Advisor

These projects also feature Luis Carrero, a former La Moncloa advisor and collaborator of David Sánchez. Carrero worked for the president's brother before joining the Legislature de Badajoz at the end of 2023.

Judge Beatriz Biedma, in charge of the investigation, has focused on Carrero. An email dated July 2022 and addressed to David Sánchez has been key.

In it, Carrero referred to himself as part of the "Operegrina Active Front" and mentioned the uncertainty about his future at La Moncloa.

At that time, although Carrero was David Sánchez's personal secretary, he was still listed as an advisor to the Presidency of the Government.

His position was attached to the Message Unit, under the command of Óscar López, Chief of Staff of Pedro Sánchez.

Ongoing Judicial Investigation

The magistrate has ordered the Civil Guard to analyze Carrero's role in David Sánchez's projects. She seeks to determine if his collaboration was in line with his functions in public administration and if there were any irregularities in his hiring.

Additionally, the judge has requested information from the Presidency of the Government about Carrero's employment history. She wants to know the positions he held, the start and end dates of each role, and the reasons for his departure from La Moncloa.

Despite the requests, the Presidency of the Government has not sent the requested documentation. For this reason, the magistrate has ordered the UCO to directly gather the data.

According to her order, this information is "essential" to clarify the facts.

Luis Carrero ended up joining the Legislature de Badajoz in 2023 as Head of the Section of Centers and Cross-Border Activities Programs.

His hiring and his role in David Sánchez's projects are now part of an ongoing investigation.