Spain is embroiled in a scandal surrounding former Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz. After the country’s Supreme Court found him guilty of breaching official secrecy and ordered him to pay a fine and compensation, the professional community of prosecutors decided not to leave their colleague alone. In just a few days, they raised the entire necessary sum—€17,200—solely through voluntary donations.
The fundraising was organized by the Unión Progresista de Fiscales (UPF), previously headed by García Ortiz himself. The campaign attracted not only UPF members but also ordinary citizens who wanted to support the former attorney general. The money was transferred to a special account opened exclusively for this purpose, and once the required amount was reached, the bank automatically stopped accepting further contributions.
Community reaction
In a statement, UPF emphasized that the initiative was more ethical than financial. According to the association, this collective gesture became a symbol of solidarity and support for those acting within the law and professional ethics. Prosecutors from different regions and ranks responded to the call, which, in UPF’s view, demonstrates the profession’s deep sense of unity.
However, not everyone in the legal community interpreted the situation unequivocally. According to UPF, the Supreme Court’s decision is a worrying sign for the entire justice system. The association harshly criticized the verdict, calling it a radical departure from established criminal law standards. In particular, the statement notes that even the court ruling itself expresses doubt that García Ortiz was in fact the source of the information leak.
Case details
The accusation centered on an email sent by the lawyer of businessman Alberto González Amador, a partner of Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to the prosecutor’s office, which ended up in the media. The ministry then released a press statement to refute rumors within Ayuso’s circle about alleged negotiations between the prosecutor and the defendant in a tax fraud case.
The Supreme Court ruled that García Ortiz’s actions violated the confidentiality of the investigation, ordering him to pay a €7,200 fine and €10,000 in compensation to González Amador. In addition, the former Attorney General was barred from holding leadership roles in the prosecutor’s office for two years. This part of the sentence was carried out immediately following his resignation, even before the court’s official notification.
Return to the profession
After his resignation, García Ortiz found himself in a state of uncertainty. Legal circles debated whether the verdict meant he automatically lost his status as prosecutor, or simply barred him from holding senior positions. The new Attorney General, Teresa Peramato, decided there was no basis for dismissal and allowed García Ortiz to return to his previous role as a courtroom prosecutor at the Supreme Court.
This decision sparked a new wave of debate. Some believe Peramato’s move strengthens the independence of the prosecution service, while others argue it undermines trust in the institution. Either way, the story of donations and collective support for García Ortiz has set a precedent for the entire Spanish judicial system.
An ethical dilemma
Raising funds to pay the former Attorney General’s fine is more than just a financial act. It challenges the established notions of solidarity within the professional community. For many prosecutors and citizens, taking part in the campaign became a way to voice their disagreement with the court’s decision and support a colleague they consider to have acted according to his conscience.
At the same time, critics point to the dangers of such precedents: if a professional community takes responsibility for its members’ personal mistakes, does it not blur the line between individual and collective accountability? The question remains open, and the story itself continues to stir debate throughout Spanish society.
