⚖️🏛️ Congress denies Ábalos' compensation claim amid Koldo García trial developments

Oneliner

The Congress of Deputies has denied former minister José Luis Ábalos' severance payment request, citing his suspension from rights due to pretrial detention in the Koldo García case. This decision follows Ábalos' resignation on January 28, 2026. Meanwhile, Koldo García's defense has requested the Supreme Court to transfer his trial over mask purchase irregularities to the Audiencia Nacional, arguing that the court no longer has jurisdiction after Ábalos lost parliamentary immunity. These developments reflect ongoing judicial challenges linked to corruption allegations in Spain.

Key points

• Congress unanimously rejects José Luis Ábalos' severance payment request due to suspension.
• Koldo García's defense seeks to transfer his mask purchase trial to the National Court.
• Ábalos' resignation from Parliament affects ongoing judicial proceedings.
• Legal opinions indicate incompatibility of severance payment with retirement pension.

Links

• Público: El Congreso no indemnizará a Ábalos por su cese al estar suspendido cuando lo pidió y ser incompatible con su jubilación
• El País: Koldo García pide al Supremo que envíe el juicio de las mascarillas a la Audiencia Nacional tras la renuncia de Ábalos al escaño
• Europa Press: Unanimidad en el Congreso para rechazar la pretensión de Ábalos de cobrar indemnización al dejar el escaño
• El País: La Audiencia de Madrid rechaza investigar si Cerdán mintió en el Senado sobre su relación con Koldo García

Facts

• Ábalos resigned from Congress on January 28, 2026.
• The severance payment could have exceeded €57,200 based on Ábalos' service.
• The last deputy to receive the indemnity was Santos Cerdán, who left Congress before entering custody.
• Koldo García's trial involves allegations of irregularities in mask purchases during the pandemic.

Quotes

• It does not seem 'reasonable' to interpret the loss of a seat as restoring rights that no longer existed beforehand — Parliamentary legal services.
• Competence must conform to the law, not only to the agreement — Leticia de la Hoz, García's lawyer.

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