Spanish Attorney General Guilty of Leaking Confidential Information

Spain’s attorney general, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been removed from his position for two years following a ruling by the Supreme Court, which found him guilty of leaking confidential information. This unprecedented case revolves around his disclosure of personal details concerning the tax status of Alberto González Amador, an entrepreneur connected to a high-profile right-wing politician.

In addition to the suspension, the court imposed a fine of €7,200 on García Ortiz and mandated that he pay González Amador €10,000 in compensation. This ruling poses significant challenges for Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s socialist prime minister, who had previously defended García Ortiz amid the accusations.

Opposition leaders have seized upon the verdict to criticize Sánchez. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People’s Party (PP), stated, “The attorney general is the main state official charged with defending legality and he has broken it, according to the Supreme Court.” He called for Sánchez to resign, reflecting the political ramifications of the case.

The controversy began in March 2024 when García Ortiz issued a statement noting that González Amador’s legal team had sought a plea agreement after he was found to have defrauded the tax office of approximately €350,000. This statement followed erroneous reports suggesting that García Ortiz had personally offered the deal. These reports originated from a senior adviser to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative president of the Madrid region and a critic of the Sánchez government.

The legal action against García Ortiz claimed that his press release violated González Amador’s privacy and alleged that he had secretly disclosed sensitive information to the media. Many supporters of the government viewed the trial as part of a broader political strategy orchestrated by right-wing judges, particularly given that there was no direct evidence linking García Ortiz to the leak.

As the political fallout unfolds, Sánchez faces his own challenges, with his brother set to go on trial for influence peddling and his wife under investigation for her business dealings. The ruling has sparked outrage among members of the Socialist Party. Patxi López, the party’s spokesman, expressed his discontent, stating, “Having seen what we have seen, knowing what we know, understanding what we do about the whole process [of this case], for me it’s an absolute disgrace.”

On the fiftieth anniversary of the death of dictator Francisco Franco, some critics have drawn parallels between the current political climate and Franco’s repressive regime. Alberto Ibáñez, a member of the left-wing Compromís party, remarked that the conviction illustrates that “Franco lives.”

Justice Minister Félix Bolaños acknowledged the ruling, asserting, “We have the obligation to accept the sentence although we don’t like it,” while maintaining that García Ortiz is innocent. The case continues to reverberate throughout Spanish politics, highlighting tensions between government officials and opposition parties amid ongoing scrutiny of legal processes and ethical conduct in public office.