A new round of controversy has erupted in Spain over the trial of the country’s Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz. The Association of Prosecutors, the largest professional body in the field, sharply criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after he publicly commented on the course of the case.
The reason for the discontent was the Prime Minister’s recent interview, in which he expressed confidence in García Ortiz’s innocence. According to the association, such statements from the head of the executive branch could be seen as an attempt to pressure the judiciary and undermine trust in the legal system. The prosecutors stressed that only the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) has the authority to make decisions on such significant cases, and any external opinions could call the objectivity of the process into question.
The trial concerning the alleged leak of classified information has reached its midpoint. In three days of hearings, twenty out of forty witnesses have already testified. At the center of the case is an email in which the lawyer Alberto González Amador, partner of Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso, allegedly admitted to tax offenses. The key question is who exactly provided this information to journalists, and whether the Attorney General was involved.
Testimonies from some witnesses indicate that the contents of the letter were known to media representatives even before García Ortiz received it. This fact has so far prevented investigators from establishing the accused’s direct involvement in the leak. However, key hearings are still ahead, where twenty more witnesses are expected to testify, including the journalist who was the first to publish details of the controversial letter.
Pivotal hearings ahead
Next week, the court will hear from the Attorney General himself, who will appear as the accused. His testimony could be a turning point in the case. The court also plans to question the journalist from Cadena SER radio station, who was the first to report on the letter’s contents on February 2—a report that triggered the investigation.
The Association of Prosecutors insists that any public statements by politicians regarding ongoing court proceedings are unacceptable, as they could be perceived as putting pressure on the judiciary. The organization urges everyone to uphold the principle of separation of powers and respect the independence of the judicial system. Meanwhile, the government continues to support García Ortiz despite the ongoing inquiry.
The trial on the disclosure of classified information has become one of the most talked-about events in Spanish politics in 2025. The outcome of the hearings could affect not only the fate of the Attorney General, but also the relationship between the branches of government in the country.
