Spain’s Supreme Court has handed down a high-profile ruling: the country’s Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been found guilty of disclosing confidential information. He has been suspended from his post for two years and ordered to pay a fine of €7,200. The decision was not unanimous—five out of seven judges supported the conviction, while two disagreed and are preparing a separate opinion.
Reasons and details of the trial
At the center of the scandal was the publication of an email sent to the prosecutor’s office by lawyer Alberto González Amador, who is in a relationship with the head of Madrid’s government, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The email contained admissions of tax violations, which could have influenced the course of the tax fraud case. According to the court, the Attorney General’s actions breached the principle of investigative secrecy and harmed the parties involved.
Political and public reactions
The court’s decision triggered a heated response in political circles. Opposition representatives declared that justice had prevailed and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The Prime Minister, however, expressed his support for García Ortiz and called the verdict unfair. The authorities are expected to begin the process of appointing a new Attorney General soon.
Consequences and next steps
In addition to suspension and a fine, the court ordered García Ortiz to pay Alberto González Amador €10,000 in compensation for moral damages, as well as to cover court costs. The verdict will become final once the full text of the decision is published. The convicted party still has the option to appeal the ruling and take the case to the Constitutional Court.
The scandal surrounding the country’s chief prosecutor has become one of the most talked-about issues in Spanish society. Questions of transparency in the judiciary and the accountability of top officials are once again in the spotlight.
