Pedro Sanchez has vowed to serve out his term amid mounting pressure from opposition parties to resign.
It comes as his ruling PSOE party, and leaders within said party, are facing multiple corruption probes, most notably ex-prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
But speaking in Rome after meeting Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, Sanchez publicly reaffirmed his support for Zapatero.
He insisted there were still ‘no sufficient reasons’ to withdraw his backing for the former leader following his indictment in the Plus Ultra airline bailout investigation.
Sanchez said he had already reviewed the court ruling and case file linked to the investigation.
He declared: ‘Total collaboration with justice, total respect for the presumption of innocence of president Zapatero and all my support for the former president.’
The meeting with the Pope came just days before the pontiff is due to visit Spain.
Sanchez highlighted what he described as shared positions between the Spanish government and the Vatican on issues including the Iran conflict, hunger and artificial intelligence.
However, he rejected suggestions the Pope’s stance should be interpreted as political backing for his government.
He said: ‘The figure of the Pope and what he represents for the Catholic community transcends political debate within the Spanish government.’
The prime minister also reiterated his intention to remain in office until the end of the legislature despite growing pressure from opposition parties and unease among some coalition allies.
Sanchez argued political stability remained essential for advancing social policies.
He even joked about calls for early elections, saying some opponents wanted him to call a vote because they believed he would return with an even larger parliamentary majority.
The comments came as PSOE faces escalating legal troubles on multiple fronts.
On Wednesday, officers from the UCO unit of the Guardia Civil entered PSOE headquarters in Madrid following a judicial request for documentation tied to the so-called Leire Diez case.
The investigation centres on allegations of covert operations aimed at discrediting judges, prosecutors and investigators.
Sanchez said the party was fully cooperating with the courts and stressed that PSOE had already acted against former militant Leire Diez when the scandal first emerged.
He added that the party would respond ‘forcefully’ to any new evidence of wrongdoing.
The prime minister also addressed reports that PSOE’s new party manager Ana Maria Fuentes had been formally placed under investigation over alleged offences including bribery, influence peddling and inducing false testimony.
Sanchez claimed he was unaware of the development before Wednesday morning and defended Fuentes as someone who had managed PSOE finances ‘scrupulously’.
He added: ‘I do not downplay the seriousness of the investigation, but if new information emerges involving irregular behaviour, the Socialist Party will act forcefully, as we always have done.’
