Acciona Featured in UCO Report on Corruption Tied to PSOE Leadership

An investigation conducted by the prestigious anti-corruption squad in Spain, the UCO (Central Operational Unit of the Guardia Civil), has implicated the infrastructure behemoth Acciona in an extensive scheme of political corruption purportedly orchestrated from the highest levels of the Socialist Party (PSOE). The investigators claim that the corporation disbursed large sums in illegal kickbacks to clinch significant government contracts. Allegedly, these bribes were channeled via political figures closely associated with ex-minister José Luis Ábalos and the party’s past Organization Secretary, Santos Cerdán.

More than €600,000 in Illegal Payments

The UCO report outlines a series of payments amounting to a minimum of €620,000 related to certain governmental contracts granted to Acciona. These financial transactions were said to be organized via intermediaries connected to Ábalos and his close collaborator Koldo García, with the entire scheme managed and orchestrated by Santos Cerdán.

Investigators also uncovered evidence of an additional €450,000 in pending bribes tied to three further public contracts, suggesting that the alleged corruption network was not isolated but ongoing, even after early signs of irregularities began to emerge.

Contracts Tailored to Favor Acciona

The agreements under discussion encompass major infrastructure initiatives carried out from 2018 to 2021, including roads, railway constructions, and public transport networks, mostly in areas managed by the PSOE. As reported by the UCO, these bids were manipulated with specific technical criteria that effectively barred competitors, securing Acciona’s victory.

The document describes the proceedings as being a part of a “flawlessly organized framework” where political influence was leveraged to manipulate the bidding procedure in return for monetary bribes.

Santos Cerdán’s Central Role

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.

According to investigators, Cerdán handled negotiations, assigned percentages, and acted as the link between the awarding authorities and the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Quietude in Institutions and Internal Evaluations

Acciona has begun an internal investigation, making a public effort to separate itself from any misconduct. An ex-executive, reportedly connected to the plan, has already departed from the firm. While Acciona denies knowledge of any misconduct, the UCO report indicates the opposite, depicting a scenario where the company either engaged in or ignored unethical behavior.

Even with the gravity of the accusations, the government has not issued any official comment. Within the PSOE, the issue has turned into a significant problem, particularly following recent prominent resignations caused by earlier stages of the corruption inquiry.

The UCO report leaves little doubt: Acciona was allegedly part of a broader, politically engineered system designed to extract bribes in exchange for multimillion-euro public contracts. If confirmed, this case would expose a deep corruption network rooted not only in party operatives but in the institutions responsible for managing public resources.

This issue has moved beyond internal party misconduct—it’s now a potential national-level scandal. The public is now watching to see if the judicial system and political bodies have the determination to seek complete accountability, no matter how far the inquiry extends.