Podcast Summary: "Las 8 de Hoy por Hoy | La fiscalía pide 24 años de prisión para Ábalos, el mismo día que Santos Cerdán queda en libertad"

Host: SER Podcast (Àngels Barceló & Team)
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of “Las 8 de Hoy por Hoy” delves into an intensely political and judicial morning for Spain: the release of Santos Cerdán, former Secretary of Organization of the PSOE, after over 140 days in prison, and the request from the Fiscalía Anticorrupción for 24 years of prison for José Luis Ábalos over the "caso Mascarillas." The morning news cycle is dominated not by the government’s planned messages about democracy and the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death, but by cascading corruption scandals at the heart of the governing party. The episode provides critical analysis of these events, examines political fallout, explores public opinion about Spain’s historical trajectory, and covers notable updates on Spain's housing crisis and international news.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Judicial Drama for the PSOE: Cerdán Freed, Ábalos on the Brink

• Santos Cerdán’s Release: After a scathing UCO report and 140 days in pre-trial custody, Cerdán is freed, but faces an intensifying judicial process.
  • [01:25] Cerdán’s statement outside prison:
    • “Se están hablando muchas mentiras y manipulaciones en cuanto a interpretación de los informes sobre mi persona. Yo confío que la verdad se imponga y que al final con esa verdad se haga justicia.” — Santos Cerdán
  • UCO’s investigation centers on alleged 2% kickbacks and €7 million received by Cerdán’s company from Acciona.
  • Awaiting detailed patrimonial report to determine how much ended in Cerdán’s personal accounts.
• Fiscalía Requests 24 Years for Ábalos:
  • José Luis Ábalos, another former PSOE secretary, faces five counts in the "caso Mascarillas."
  • Prosecution seeks review of current bail conditions for Ábalos and Coldo García (facing 19.5 years).
  • Ábalos could slow proceedings by resigning as deputy, but his circle dismisses such speculation as blackmail (“chantaje”) [03:11].
• Political Context:
  • The government prepares for an election cycle and planned to focus its messages on defending democracy and commemorating the end of the Franco dictatorship, but is reeling from corruption headlines featuring its former most-trusted lieutenants [00:08, 00:48].
  • Tensions in PSOE: leadership tries to contain fallout, referring to the Cerdán case as a "trama familiar" and insisting it's isolated from the party — but nerves are raw with a tough election season ahead [05:08].

2. Broader Political Fallout and Reactions

• Pedro Sánchez: At a campaign rally, avoids referencing the corruption cases, instead emphasizing critiques of the opposition (PP) [04:05].
• PP’s Response:
  • Accuses PSOE of systemic corruption—suggesting that if cases like Cerdán, Coldo, and Ábalos imply illegal party financing ("Gürtel del PSOE"), then new elections are warranted [06:30–06:43].
  • Contrasts with their own rapid disciplinary actions in Almería’s corruption case [07:39].
    • “En mediodía hemos suspendido de militancia a un presidente de diputación, presidente del partido, a un vicepresidente y a un alcalde… nosotros vamos a ser transparentes.” — Juanma Moreno Bonilla (PP)
• Other Political Parties:
  • “Esto no es ni el caso Santos, ni el caso Coldo, ni el caso Ábalos. Es el caso PSOE.” — Carmen Viñas (Podemos or Esquerra) [06:32]
• Sumar’s Position:
  • “Ha llegado el momento de tomar medidas eficaces contra la corrupción en nuestro país.” — Yolanda Díaz [06:08]

3. Public Opinion: Franco, Democracy, and Generational Divides

• Highlights a new poll (SER/El País) showing 70% of Spaniards believe the country improved after Franco, but major generational splits remain [08:26]:
  • Nearly 25% of young adults could justify a regime autoritario in “certain circumstances.”
  • Only 55% overall have a negative view of the Franco dictatorship; 15% view it positively.
  • Large historical gaps among those under 44: half cannot correctly place the dictatorship, and 8% think Francoism was democratic [09:01].
    • “El desconocimiento es muy evidente entre las generaciones más jóvenes.” — Miguel Ángel Muñoz Encinas

4. Housing Market Update: Soaring Prices and Social Impact

• Housing prices have reached a historic high: €2,153/m², surpassing the 2008 bubble [10:28].
  • Since 2019, price gaps between online listings and actual transactions have widened from 24% to 43% [11:10].
    • Major disconnect between “la realidad y la expectativa,” especially in Andalusia and Extremadura (gap up to 65%).
  • Luxury housing in Catalonia is double the amount of subsidized units [12:08]. Demand fed by wealthy, often international, young buyers and “nómadas digitales.”
    • “Hemos tenido hasta chicos de 20 años que han venido a alquilar pisos de 7.000 euros.” — Damián Hecht, CEO, Walter House [12:42]

5. Historically Significant Anniversaries

• Nuremberg Trials 80th Anniversary [13:08]:
  • The episode marks the anniversary as a turning point in international criminal law:
    • “Con los juicios de Núremberg, el mundo asistió al nacimiento del derecho internacional.” — Carmen Viñas
    • “La idea de Núremberg sigue vigente… Se necesita tiempo y paciencia. La situación política cambiará y entonces podrá aplicarse.” — Jürgen Petrosian (jurist)
• Franco’s Death 50 Years Ago:
  • Both events present a dual lens on transitions from dictatorship and the pursuit of justice.

6. International and Labor News

• Trump and Epstein Files [14:22]: Trump signs law to declassify Epstein files, but could still maneuver to redact documents; meeting scheduled with new (communist) NYC mayor.
• Spanish Public Workers' Wage Negotiations [14:51–16:03]:
  • Government offers 10% pay rise over four years to civil servants, but unions (CSIF, CCOO, UGT) reject as insufficient after years of stagnation.
  • Additional updates expected as negotiations continue.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:25]
  “Yo confío que la verdad se imponga y que al final con esa verdad se haga justicia.”
  — Santos Cerdán, upon release from prison
• [05:08]
  "Los socialistas se aferran a que creen que el caso está encapsulado... aunque la tensión y el nerviosismo... es evidente."
  — Ana Fernández Vila
• [06:08]
  "Ha llegado el momento ya de tomar medidas eficaces contra la corrupción en nuestro país."
  — Yolanda Díaz (Sumar)
• [06:32]
  "Esto no es ni el caso Santos, ni el caso Coldo, ni el caso Ábalos. Es el caso PSOE."
  — Carmen Viñas
• [07:39]
  "Nosotros... vamos a ser transparentes."
  — Juanma Moreno Bonilla (PP), on disciplinary action within his own party
• [09:01]
  "El desconocimiento es muy evidente entre las generaciones más jóvenes. La mitad de los menores de 44 años tampoco sabe ubicar, por ejemplo, correctamente en el tiempo la dictadura franquista."
  — Miguel Ángel Muñoz Encinas
• [12:42]
  "Hemos tenido hasta chicos de 20 años que han venido a alquilar pisos de 7.000 euros."
  — Damián Hecht
• [13:26]
  "El mundo asistió hace 80 años al nacimiento del derecho internacional [con Núremberg]."
  — Carmen Viñas

Timestamps of Significant Segments

• 00:08 – 01:48: Set-up of judicial woes for PSOE: Cerdán out, Ábalos faces jail time; Cerdán’s statement outside prison
• 02:12 – 05:08: In-depth legal context and political maneuvering around Cerdán and Ábalos, prosecution strategies, party responses
• 06:08 – 07:39: Reactions from Sumar, Podemos/Esquerra, PP; comparison with PP’s Almería response
• 08:26 – 10:11: Survey results about Franco’s legacy and democratic values
• 10:28 – 12:08: Housing price crisis and the surge in luxury vs. protected housing
• 13:08 – 13:55: Núremberg Trials anniversary, reflections on justice and international law
• 14:22 – 14:51: Brief international update: Trump/Epstein, US news
• 14:51 – 16:03: Government wage offer and public sector union reactions

In Summary

This episode offers a comprehensive, critical, and context-rich account of Spain’s ongoing struggle with political corruption, its impact on PSOE’s electoral prospects, and the broader societal challenges the country faces—from historical memory to economic inequality. Listeners gain a nuanced understanding of both the immediate headlines and the deeper currents shaping Spanish public life.