Spain’s National Court (Audiencia Nacional) has made a decision that surprised many involved in the high-profile case concerning cash payouts from the Ferraz central office. Judge Ismael Moreno rejected the petition to remove the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) from the list of plaintiffs in the case involving cash transfers to former minister José Luis Ábalos and his adviser Koldo García.
Arguments of the parties and the court’s position
The initiative to exclude the Socialists came from representatives of other plaintiffs, including the People’s Party (PP), who argued that PSOE’s participation in the process was incompatible with their potential status as a subject of the investigation. In their view, if the party itself could be involved in the alleged incidents, it should not remain among the plaintiffs to avoid a conflict of interest and ensure the proceedings remain objective.
However, Judge Moreno found no grounds to grant these requests. In his ruling, he pointed out that, at this stage, PSOE does not appear in the case as a suspect. According to the court, suspicions about the party’s possible involvement remain hypothetical and are not supported by specific procedural actions. Therefore, the Socialists’ participation as plaintiffs does not violate the law and does not hinder the ongoing investigation.
Response from the prosecution and other parties in the case
Previously, the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office took a similar position. Representatives of the agency emphasized that there are no legal grounds to exclude PSOE from the proceedings. Even if new information about possible violations by individual party members emerges in the future, this does not mean the entire organization will be automatically removed from the case.
Among those supporting the demand to exclude the socialists were not only the People’s Party, but also representatives of other political and public organizations. Despite this, the court remained steadfast, stressing that any decision must be based on facts, not assumptions or political motives.
Consequences of the decision and the future development of the case
The court’s decision sparked lively debate in political circles. For PSOE, retaining the status of prosecutor means they can continue to actively participate in the investigation and defend their position. For the opposition, however, it became grounds for renewed accusations against the judicial system and the current authorities.
The case of cash payments from the Ferraz office remains in the spotlight of Spanish society. The investigation is still focused on clarifying the circumstances surrounding the transfer of funds to the former minister and his advisor. New procedural steps are expected soon, which may shed light on the details of this complex story.
