Academic Francisco Marhuenda accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on August 11, 2026, of executive authoritarianism and showing contempt for the Senate. Writing in an opinion article, Marhuenda criticized law professors serving La Moncloa, calling their alignment with the government a display of fanatical sectarianism and servility that ignores ongoing abuses against the Spanish Constitution.
Marhuenda stated that the government amnesty constitutes monumental political corruption that reverts Spain to historical eras when public offices were bought. He asserted that this act initiated a legislative term in which the government rules behind Parliament's back, fails to hold the Debate on the State of the Nation, and has failed to present the General State Budgets project.
Senate Oversight and Constitutional Framework
Describing criticisms of the center-right majority in the Senate as evidence of governmental authoritarianism and ignorance, Marhuenda defended the chamber's oversight role. He noted that the framers of the 1978 Constitution could have established a unicameral system, as occurred under the constitutions of 1812 and 1931, but chose a bicameral structure instead.
Marhuenda targeted Supreme Court magistrate Cándido Conde-Pumpido, accusing him of selling his soul to Sánchez in exchange for becoming a permanent councillor of the Council of State. He stated that Conde-Pumpido would commit any outrage and ironically claim that the Senate does not exist, while recalling a legal doctrine attributed to Conde-Pumpido that allows any action not expressly forbidden by law.
Insisting that constitutional prevalence for Congress does not make the Senate a puppet, Marhuenda affirmed that the upper house is justified in forming investigative commissions and requesting government ministers to appear for questioning.
Parliamentary Leadership and Separation of Powers
Turning to the lower house, Marhuenda characterized Congress President Francina Armengol as inane and acting as a transmission belt for Sánchez. He added that legal officer Fernando Galindo serves sanchismo rather than the Cortes, accusing Armengol of disregarding the principle of separation of powers.
Marhuenda emphasized that Alberto Núñez Feijóo won the election, claiming Sánchez purchased the presidency through the amnesty despite having previously argued that such a measure was unconstitutional. He concluded that the Senate and its president are executing their designated powers rather than committing any parliamentary fraud.
Marhuenda is a full academician of the Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation of Spain and the Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain, a corresponding academician of the Royal Academy of History, and professor of public law and history of institutions at UNIE University.
