Spain remains embroiled in a heated debate over the surveillance case involving former head of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès. The country’s Supreme Court recently confirmed that most documents related to the use of the Pegasus spyware will remain classified. This decision has sparked outrage among Catalan politicians and independence supporters.
The story began several years ago, when it was revealed that the mobile phone of Aragonès, then serving as vice president and leader of the Esquerra Republicana party, had been hacked using the Israeli software Pegasus. This program enables covert access to calls, messages, and files on a device. In 2022, it emerged that dozens of Catalan politicians had been monitored in a similar manner, triggering a major scandal and a wave of protests in Barcelona and other cities across the region.
In response to public pressure, the Spanish authorities pledged to declassify some of the materials related to the activities of the National Intelligence Center (CNI) in this case. However, only three reports were eventually released, with the remaining documents kept secret. The official reason cited is the protection of national security and the need to prevent the disclosure of intelligence agency methods.
The Supreme Court, after reviewing the Catalan government’s complaint, sided with Madrid. The judges ruled that releasing additional information could jeopardize not only the safety of citizens but also the stability of the country’s entire legal system. This decision drew a strong reaction from Pere Aragonès, who accused the Spanish authorities of prioritizing the interests of security services over citizens’ rights to free political activity.
The Pegasus scandal has further strained relations between Madrid and Barcelona. Catalan politicians believe the refusal to disclose all the details of the case reveals the weakness of the state and its unwillingness to enter into dialogue with the independence movement. Meanwhile, the central government insists that secrecy must be maintained for the sake of national security.
