Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has spoken out publicly to deny a rumour that he is secretly receiving treatment for an alleged heart disease.
The rumour, which gained significant reach on social media in recent days, grew after it was first published by the right-wing outlet Libertad Digital.
The government quickly denied the story to Spanish journalists who tried to verify it but the rumours continued online and in right-wing circles. Many outlets pointed to the fact that Sánchez has supposedly appeared thin or gaunt in public appearances in recent months.
The initial publication stated that Sánchez (53) has been receiving treatment for a “cardiovascular condition” at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, reportedly “for months”.
Government sources have not clarified whether Sánchez has had any recent check-ups there, a hospital used by government staff, but insisted that he is suffering from no condition or illness and that the rumour is false.
However, on Wednesday it was then reinforced by the opposition People’s Party when Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, a party spokesperson, asked in the House of Deputies for the government to declassify information about Sánchez’s health, claiming it was in the national interest.
That pushed Sánchez to take to social media to deny the claims, stating:
“I do not suffer from any cardiovascular disease, but even if I did, it would not be a problem. Millions of people suffer from such diseases and lead normal lives thanks to the public services that you are dismantling,” Sánchez posted, taking aim at privatisation of public healthcare in Spain.
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Sánchez also took the chance to make a few further political points, hinting at the Spanish right’s use of smears and fake news, something the Prime Minister suggested it has done before with allegations against his family:
“The smear machine always works the same way: they launch the rumour from a pseudo-media outlet, their MPs amplify it, and their talk show hosts muddy the public conversation.”
The Spanish premier recently shared a video on his social media channels in which he is seen practicing mountain biking in a snowy setting. He is also reportedly an avid jogger and lifts weights. Sánchez played basketball in his youth, forming part of Spanish team Estudiantes’ academy from the age of 12 to 21.
“I try to do sport because, for politics and especially for the stress and pressure we have, sport is fundamental,” Sánchez said in an interview in 2023.
