Patricia Úriz, the former wife of ex-adviser Koldo García, has found herself at the center of a high-profile investigation that could shed new light on the financial flows within one of Spain’s largest political parties. Testifying before the National Court, she claimed that all the cash she and her husband handled came exclusively from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE). According to Úriz, the money was given to them in envelopes, and while €500 bills were sometimes included, it was not a regular occurrence.
Úriz also pointed out discrepancies in spending which, she claimed, were never reported in the party’s official accounting. Specifically, she mentioned a 2,000 euro payment given to the driver of former minister José Luis Ábalos, which was not reflected in any financial records. Such details raise questions about transparency within PSOE’s finances and fuel suspicions of an unofficial cash fund.
Suspicious messages
During questioning, Úriz categorically denied any involvement in the messaging app conversations where so-called ‘chistorras’—a term that turned out to mean €500 bills—were discussed. She claimed not to recognize the messages and suggested the mobile phones might have been tampered with. This twist has added more intrigue to an already complicated case, as it raises the possibility that digital evidence may have been manipulated.
The former wife of the advisor answered only questions from her own lawyer, completely ignoring representatives of the prosecution and public accusers. She also rejected the allegations of illicit enrichment that the Civil Guard’s Central Operative Unit (UCO) insists upon. According to her, all major expenses related to the Ministry of Transport were always paid by bank transfer, and any cash received came exclusively from the party.
Secret accounting
The National Court is conducting a closed investigation into cash payments within PSOE. Uris was questioned as a suspect for money laundering and spent nearly an hour and a half giving testimony. Her statements have reinforced suspicions about the existence of a so-called party ‘slush fund,’ which has already been the subject of investigative journalism reports. She confirmed that there were unrecorded payments and advances, the origins of which were not officially explained.
At the same time, Uris stressed that all real estate acquired by her and Koldo García was not purchased with questionable funds but through mortgage loans. She gave a detailed account of how their family finances were managed and how the initial payments for the properties were made. According to her, there were no illegal sources of funding involved in these transactions.
Unanswered questions
Scandal over cash payments within the PSOE continues to escalate. Patricia Uris’s testimony has revealed new details but raised even more questions. Why were large sums handed over in envelopes? Who else was involved in these transactions? And did digital evidence manipulation really take place? The answers remain unclear as the investigation moves forward.
