In Barcelona and across Catalonia, the latest developments in the PSOE influence peddling case have added fresh pressure on Spanish politics, after the party in Madrid denied any direct involvement and blamed people it described as acting on their own.
On X, the socialist organisation secretary, Rebeca Torró, said those involved were “farsants, oportunistes i ressentits” and argued that they had used the party’s name falsely. The party also said the summary known this week showed “intolerable behaviours” by people who used the PSOE name to benefit themselves or defend “dark interests”.
The PSOE no longer denies that an organised group tried to gather information on investigations, police officers, judges and prosecutors in order to pressure them. What it rejects is the suggestion that the party itself directed or approved those actions, a suspicion raised by National Court investigating judge Santiago Pedraz.
According to the judicial summary, the group was allegedly led by Santos Cerdán and Leire Díez, and aimed to weaken judicial cases affecting the PSOE. The documents also refer to meetings at the party’s Ferraz headquarters and to claims by Díez that she had access to senior figures, including “los de dalt”, as well as the State Attorney General at the time, Álvaro García Ortíz.
The summary says Díez also claimed she could arrange special appointments and offered a Guardia Civil agent she was trying to recruit a post as special adviser to the corps’ director. It also records a series of meetings between Díez and the Guardia Civil director, Mercedes González. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska publicly backed González on Thursday.
The PSOE’s response has shifted as the judicial summary of the so-called Leire case became public. The party is now focusing on the actions of individuals it says acted without authorisation, rather than only arguing that it is being persecuted. For readers following the wider political fallout, our news coverage brings together the latest updates.