Pedro Sanchez has requested an appearance before Congress to address the political fallout from recent judicial investigations involving the PSOE and former prime minister Jose Zapatero.

The appearance is expected to take place during the final week of June, likely on June 24, during the last parliamentary session before the summer recess.

The request comes amid growing pressure from both opposition parties and several of the government’s parliamentary allies, including Sumar, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), BNG and Podemos.

All have demanded explanations regarding the investigation into former PSOE activist Leire Diez and the criminal case involving Zapatero.

Sanchez has formally asked to address Congress not only on those issues but also to report on the upcoming European Council summit in Brussels on June 18 and 19.

The timing means the prime minister’s appearance will likely come after Zapatero gives evidence before National Court judge Jose Luis Calama, who is investigating him for alleged offences including criminal organisation and influence peddling.

A separate request for Sanchez to appear has also been jointly submitted by ERC, Podemos, BNG and Compromis.

Calls for explanations have intensified following a series of judicial developments involving both Zapatero and the PSOE.

The opposition Partido Popular (PP) has repeatedly demanded answers and has renewed calls for an early general election.

Several of Sanchez’s parliamentary partners have also publicly requested greater transparency over the ongoing investigations.

Speaking in Rome on Wednesday, Sanchez rejected the possibility of bringing elections forward and reiterated the PSOE’s commitment to fully cooperating with the courts.

‘The party will collaborate fully with the justice system,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Oscar Puente claimed on Thursday that there were attempts to destabilise the government using what he described as ‘undemocratic methods’.

Puente said the PSOE would neither tolerate nor submit to efforts aimed at undermining Spain’s democratic institutions.