Spain’s Anticorruption Prosecutor has warned that persistent delays in high-profile corruption cases threaten the credibility of the country’s justice system. The annual report from the Fiscalía General del Estado calls these delays a "scourge" that frustrates citizens and gives the accused more time to avoid consequences. Official records show that the 2026 Memoria Anual de la Fiscalía was formally presented to the Prime Minister on September 8, 2026, and published at the start of the 2026 to 2027 judicial year.
The problem is especially clear in the Audiencia Nacional. The Pujol investigation, opened in 2012, did not reach trial until late 2025. The Lezo case began with the 2017 arrest of former Madrid president Ignacio González and went to trial at the end of 2025. By the time hearings begin, evidence is often outdated and memories have faded; the accused sometimes receive lighter sentences because of the long wait. Media reports say the Lezo trial, which started on September 7, 2026, began nearly a decade after the investigation opened. More than twenty defendants face charges related to the overpayment of at least 19 million euros in the Inassa acquisition for Canal de Isabel II.
The Azud case in Valencia, another major corruption investigation, has only just entered the intermediate phase, with no trial date set as of September 2026. Judicial delays also extend beyond the Audiencia Nacional.
The Prosecutor’s report points to several causes: courts are overloaded, case files are complex, resources are scarce and the legal system allows endless appeals. Private prosecutions, especially in cases involving politicians, and deliberate stalling by defendants add to the backlog. As the report notes, "the practice of evidence is diluted or distorted, if not rendered impossible." Media coverage of the Memoria Anual says Anticorrupción directly blames these systemic issues for chronic delays in major cases and warns that the justice system is becoming less effective as public trust declines.
These delays have tangible effects. Defendants have more time to hide illicit gains, some crimes expire under statutes of limitations, and public confidence in the justice system falls. Sentence reductions for undue delays have become common, while those accused face damaging media coverage for years before a verdict. Reports on the Lezo case say the long wait undermines the quality of evidence and delays final judgments. The Pujol case shows a similar pattern: as of 2026, no verdict had been reached, even though hearings began in late 2025.
The Memoria Anual de la Fiscalía goes beyond summarizing individual cases. It assesses Spain’s criminal field and prosecutorial effectiveness, and recommends judicial reforms. Its findings are officially recognized at the highest levels of government and the Royal Household, reflecting the gravity of the issues raised.
Fiscalía General del Estado
The report also highlights frustration in other areas. The Fiscalía Antidroga says staff shortages and judicial reluctance to approve investigative measures, such as phone taps, are making it harder to fight drug trafficking. In Andalusia, rising narco-violence and seizures of military-grade weapons, including rocket launchers, show the growing threat. The Prosecutor’s office warns that many investigations collapse after slow or inadequate judicial responses, giving criminal organizations time to adapt and avoid arrest.
The annual report also covers the conviction of former Fiscal General Álvaro García Ortiz for leaking secrets related to Alberto González Amador, partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The Supreme Court imposed a two-year special disqualification, but his successor, Teresa Peramato, decided this would not mean expulsion from the prosecutorial career, citing legal precedents and the specific scope of the penalty. The internal file on García Ortiz remains confidential, with the Prosecutor’s office insisting on strict privacy for all involved.
Data protection failures are also under scrutiny. The González Amador case file was uploaded to a shared digital folder accessible to dozens of officials. Its size was cited to justify the upload, which took place without proper authorization. The incident led to new restrictions on digital access within the Prosecutor’s office to prevent future leaks and tighten internal controls.
Hate crimes are rising, with 550 investigations opened in 2025, a 15% increase over the previous year. Most cases involve racist or xenophobic insults, often spread on social media. The report cites violent incidents in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, as a clear example of the dangers of unchecked online hate. Those dangers include group assaults and the public misidentification of innocent people. Despite the increase in cases, most investigations are closed because perpetrators are difficult to identify or discriminatory motives are hard to prove, though 82% of sentences handed down were convictions.
Violence linked to football and other major sports is also spreading beyond stadiums, with street fights and property damage now common in Spanish cities. The Prosecutor’s office warns that these disturbances increasingly threaten public safety and cause impressive financial losses for public and private property owners.
To address the growing complexity of corruption and administrative crimes, the Fiscalía General supports creating a new Specialized Unit for crimes against public administration. Despite internal controversy and opposition from the Fiscal Council, the office says the unit will work alongside Anticorrupción without duplicating its work. The new body is expected to push for tougher penalties, including bans on public contracting and the annulment of tainted contracts, to strengthen deterrence and restore public trust.
Spain’s justice system is not the only institution under strain. As reported earlier, other branches of government have also struggled with crisis management and internal conflict, reflecting a broader pattern of systemic overload and political friction.
The Prosecutor’s annual report paints a bleak picture. Chronic underfunding, procedural loopholes and a culture of delay have created a system where justice is slow, uneven and often unsatisfying for everyone involved. Without real reform and investment in judicial capacity, Spain risks letting serious crimes go unpunished and losing public trust in its institutions. Anticorrupción’s warning is clear: unless the system is overhauled, the credibility of Spanish justice will remain in doubt, and the cycle of impunity will continue.
