Spain’s Defence Ministry will not suspend Lieutenant General Manuel Llamas, the Guardia Civil’s number two, despite his status as an investigated party in the ‘caso Leire’. Legal advisors say there is not enough evidence for disciplinary action.
The Ministry of Defence has decided not to suspend Lieutenant General Manuel Llamas, the director adjunto operativo (DAO) of the Guardia Civil, after he was formally named as an investigated party in the ongoing ‘caso Leire’. This case, led by Judge Pedraz, also involves Mercedes González, the head of the Guardia Civil, and centres on alleged efforts to interfere with judicial proceedings related to the PSOE. The ministry’s legal department concluded that, at this stage, there is insufficient basis to initiate disciplinary proceedings or suspend Llamas from his duties.
Both Llamas and González are scheduled to appear before the court on the 16th of this month, facing allegations of prevarication and obstruction of justice. The accusations stem from suspicions that senior officials attempted to influence or halt legal cases that could impact the ruling party. According to the Ministry’s legal report, any decision regarding disciplinary measures should be postponed until the criminal investigation concludes, as current evidence does not justify immediate action.
Spanish law allows for the suspension of Guardia Civil officers under certain conditions, such as formal indictment or the imposition of precautionary measures. However, the law also grants discretion to the authorities, who must weigh the seriousness of the alleged offences, the presence of preventive detention, potential harm to the institution’s reputation, and the level of public concern. The final decision on suspension rests with Defence Minister Margarita Robles, while Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska would determine if such a suspension should also mean removal from the current post.
The political party Iusticia Europa recently called for an urgent disciplinary inquiry and immediate suspension of Llamas, citing his status as an investigated party. Despite this, the Defence Ministry’s legal advisors argue that there is currently no solid ground to assess whether the facts behind his summons amount to a disciplinary breach. They also note that any disciplinary process should be put on hold until the criminal case is resolved. Furthermore, the legal report states that Iusticia Europa lacks the standing to formally request Llamas’s suspension, but leaves open the possibility of future action depending on how the judicial process develops.
Pressure is mounting from within the Guardia Civil itself, as several associations demand the removal of both González and Llamas. Critics point out that rank-and-file officers are often suspended automatically when under investigation, raising concerns about inconsistent standards at the top. The government now faces a dilemma: it cannot suspend the DAO while keeping the director general in place, given that both are implicated in the same case.
This situation echoes earlier controversies over the handling of high-profile investigations within Spain’s security forces. For example, recent scrutiny of the government’s response to internal probes involving the Guardia Civil has highlighted the delicate balance between presumption of innocence and public accountability. As seen in coverage of the government’s stance on Mercedes González’s investigation, officials have repeatedly cited a lack of evidence as grounds for resisting calls for immediate dismissals or suspensions.
In Spain, the Guardia Civil is a key national law enforcement agency with both military and civilian functions. Its leadership is subject to strict legal and disciplinary frameworks, but political and institutional pressures often complicate decision-making in sensitive cases. The outcome of the ‘caso Leire’ could set important precedents for how allegations against senior officials are handled in the future, especially regarding the timing and justification for suspensions during ongoing judicial proceedings.
