Spanish police search prime minister's party HQ over corruption allegations

Police have searched the Madrid headquarters of Spain's ruling Socialist Party over a potential illegal payments scheme.

The Civil Guard said a judge had ordered officers to find any evidence relating to claims of corruption against former party member Leire Diez.

It's one of various ongoing probes into the allies and family of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who claims there's a smear campaign against him.

Audio recordings of Ms Diez appeared in Spanish media last year, apparently showing her involvement in trying to discredit a member of the Civil Guard's anti-corruption unit.

Further reports linked her to alleged attempts to influence state prosecutors.

The probe aims to find out if she was paid for the alleged actions and the national court said police had been told to "confiscate diverse documentation and electronic archives".

The Socialist Party said she was acting on her own and Ms Diez, who has since left the party, has denied wrongdoing.

The prime minister's wife and brother are also being probed over various claims of corruption - which they deny.

However, Begona Gomez was charged last month after a two-year investigation.

Last week another court said it was investigating Mr Sanchez's close ally, former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, over an alleged influence-peddling network and other possible crimes linked to a government airline bailout.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

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Mr Sanchez's ex-transport minister, Jose Luis Abalos, and his aide are also awaiting a trial verdict over claims of bribery in awarding face mask contracts during the pandemic. They also deny any wrongdoing.

Despite saying the cases are politically motivated, Mr Sanchez apologised to voters last year and asked for "forgiveness" after his close confidant Santos Cerdan was also put under investigation.

The prime minister himself - who's been in charge since 2018 - has not been directly linked to any of the scandals but thousands protested in Madrid at the weekend to call for his resignation.