David Sánchez, the brother of Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has been banned from holding public office for nine years after a court found him guilty of administrative misconduct.
The conviction stems from his hiring by a socialist-led council in Extremadura in July 2017.
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At the time, his brother was the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
The court determined that the position created for him—coordinator of public music schools—was neither necessary nor urgent, and that it served his personal interests rather than the public good.
Although found guilty of misconduct, David Sánchez was cleared of influence peddling, which could have led to a three-year prison sentence.
Nine other co-defendants received similar bans for misconduct.
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Miguel Ángel Gallardo, the former PSOE leader in Extremadura, received an 18-year ban for multiple counts of misconduct.
The allegations have intensified calls for a snap election amid corruption claims against the Sánchez family and the ruling party.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. He stated, "The truth will come out in the end.
My brother and my wife are innocent."
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His wife, Begoña Gómez, is also facing trial on charges including embezzlement and influence peddling.
