Trial begins: Allegations of unlawful investigative methods
On the very first day of hearings in the Pujol family case, defense attorneys accused investigators of using illegitimate methods. The defense claims that a significant portion of the evidence was obtained unlawfully, compromising the trial from the outset. According to them, pressure on the defendants and manipulations by certain law enforcement officials influenced the course of the investigation.
Lawyers for two sons of the former president of Catalonia (Jordi Pujol) insist that the family head’s 2014 confession was not voluntary. They argue he was forced into it after information about accounts in Andorra was leaked—a leak they say came as a result of blackmail and intense pressure.
The role of ‘Operation Catalonia’ and police actions
At the center of the case is the so-called ‘Operation Catalonia’—a series of initiatives aimed at discrediting Catalan politicians supporting independence. During the tenure of Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz, police actions, according to the defense, crossed the line as they sought to compromise the Pujol family. Some of these acts have already been deemed illegal by the courts: the former head of the National Police was convicted for the unlawful use of one of the Pujol sons’ personal data.
However, despite these circumstances, the Pujol family did indeed have secret accounts in Andorra that remained undeclared for over thirty years. Only after the publication of compromising materials in the press in 2014 did the family choose to legalize their assets. Lawyers claim these publications forced the former president of Catalonia to make a confession, explaining the origin of the funds as an inheritance from his father.
Questionable evidence and new revelations
The investigation into the Pujol case began back in 2012, following the testimony of Victoria Álvarez, the former partner of the eldest son. She described transporting large amounts of cash between Catalonia and Andorra. It later emerged that her testimony was not impartial: she had received payments from state reserves. This led to new investigations, which were eventually merged with the Pujol confession case.
Currently, Álvarez has not been called to testify by either the prosecution or the defense, although her ex-wife’s statements are included in the case. The lawyer for one of Pujol’s sons emphasizes that the case was launched not on the witnesses’ own initiative but under the guidance of certain individuals within government structures who sought to influence the political situation in Catalonia.
Third episode: data theft and new accusations
Another episode involved the theft of personal and financial data belonging to one of the Pujol sons, which subsequently came into police possession. In 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a former deputy police chief who had ordered this information to be handed over to investigators. The defense argues that all subsequent evidence obtained based on this data should be declared invalid.
Nevertheless, experts note that the chances of having the proceedings declared invalid are extremely slim. The court has already ruled the investigation’s actions legal, and the findings have been backed by various pieces of evidence. Prosecutors are convinced: the former head of Catalonia and his family abused their positions for personal gain, receiving illicit profits from state contracts.
