Spain's Sanchez faces mounting corruption probes as Socialist government loses poll lead

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who came to power in 2018 promising to clean up politics after ousting a corruption-plagued center-right government, now faces multiple graft investigations targeting his Socialist party and family members. The probes have eroded his political position at home, where polls show his government trailing despite international praise for opposing Donald Trump and criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza. Sanchez's domestic vulnerability reflects a broader pattern in which European leaders face domestic accountability even as their foreign policy stances gain international support. The timing tests whether Spain's Socialist government can survive the legal challenges or whether corruption allegations will force early elections.