In an unprecedented ruling, Spain's serving attorney general, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been found guilty by the supreme court of leaking confidential information, marking a significant political blow to the country's socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
The Verdict and Its Immediate Consequences
The Supreme Court of Spain announced its verdict on Thursday, convicting Álvaro García Ortiz for divulging private details about a tax case involving businessman Alberto González Amador. García Ortiz has been barred from his role as attorney general for two years, handed a fine of €7,300 (approximately £6,428), and ordered to pay €10,000 in damages to the businessman.
This conviction is historic, as García Ortiz becomes the first serving Spanish attorney general to stand trial and be found guilty. He had vehemently denied the accusations that he shared González Amador's personal information with journalists while the businessman was under investigation for alleged tax fraud.
The Political Firestorm and Wider Context
The case has ignited a fierce political debate, particularly because Alberto González Amador is the partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the high-profile right-wing populist president of the Madrid region and a staunch critic of Prime Minister Sánchez. Ayuso, a member of the People's party (PP), had alleged that the leak was a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation.
This verdict arrives at a precarious time for Pedro Sánchez, who had publicly defended García Ortiz's innocence. The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure due to a series of separate corruption investigations involving his wife and his brother. In June, Sánchez's right-hand man, Santos Cerdán, was forced to resign from his party post after a supreme court judge identified "firm evidence" of his potential involvement in a kickback scheme.
Government sources stated they respect the court's decision but disagree with it, expressing gratitude for García Ortiz's service and confirming that the process to appoint his successor will begin shortly.
Reactions and Institutional Ramifications
The opposition has seized upon the conviction. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the PP, called it an "anomaly" that would forever weigh on Sánchez's legacy, demanding an apology to the Spanish people. The leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, went further, accusing Sánchez of presiding over "a mafia" and predicting the Prime Minister would be "the first prime minister in Spanish history to end up in prison."
The scandal has intensified concerns about the politicisation of Spain's judiciary. Prime Minister Sánchez himself has previously questioned the independence of some judges, stating in a September interview that "there's no doubt that there are judges doing politics and there are politicians trying to do justice."
This case, coupled with the ongoing probes into his inner circle, poses a severe challenge to Sánchez's authority and his government's anti-corruption credentials.
