Spanish Attorney General Convicted for Leaking Confidential Information

Spain’s attorney general, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been stripped of his position for two years after the Supreme Court found him guilty of leaking confidential information in a landmark case. The court ruled that García Ortiz disclosed personal details regarding the tax status of Alberto González Amador, an entrepreneur and associate of a prominent right-wing politician.

In addition to the suspension, the tribunal imposed a fine of €7,200 on García Ortiz and mandated that he pay €10,000 in compensation to González Amador. This decision represents a significant setback for Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s socialist prime minister, who had publicly defended García Ortiz against the allegations.

Political Fallout and Reactions

The ruling has sparked a political firestorm, particularly among opposition parties. 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.” Feijóo’s comments have intensified calls for Sánchez to resign.

Members of the far-right Vox party have also weighed in, with José María Figaredo asserting that “if the government had any shame at all it would call [elections] today.” The controversy surrounding García Ortiz has drawn attention to the political tensions in Spain, particularly as Sánchez’s government faces additional scrutiny.

The origins of this controversy trace back to March 2024, when García Ortiz issued a statement indicating that González Amador’s legal representatives had sought a plea deal after he was found to have defrauded the tax office of approximately €350,000. This statement followed erroneous reports asserting that García Ortiz had offered the plea deal, sourced from a senior adviser to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the conservative president of the Madrid region and a vocal critic of Sánchez’s administration.

Legal Implications and Broader Context

The legal case against García Ortiz claimed that his press release constituted a breach of privacy and alleged that he had covertly leaked González Amador’s tax information to the media. The absence of direct evidence linking García Ortiz to the leak has led many on the political left to view the trial as part of a broader campaign against the current government, supported by right-wing judges.

The case occurs amid other significant legal challenges for Sánchez, as his brother is set to stand trial for influence peddling and investigations into his wife’s business dealings are ongoing. The ruling has prompted a strong backlash from the Socialist Party, with spokesperson Patxi López denouncing it as “an absolute disgrace.”

The case has drawn parallels to the repressive regime of former dictator Francisco Franco, particularly as the ruling coincided with the 50th anniversary of Franco’s death. Alberto Ibáñez from the left-wing Compromís party remarked that the conviction signifies that “Franco lives.”

In response to the ruling, Justice Minister Félix Bolaños stated, “We have the obligation to accept the sentence although we don’t like it,” while reiterating his belief in García Ortiz’s innocence. The fallout from this case is likely to resonate across Spain’s political landscape, further complicating Sánchez’s administration as it navigates ongoing controversies and challenges.