The director general of the Guardia Civil, Mercedes González, appeared before the National Court in July 2026 as an accused in the ongoing ‘Caso Leire Díez’ investigation. She told Judge Santiago Pedraz that she considers herself a victim of a scheme allegedly orchestrated by former Socialist activist Leire Díez and former PSOE Organization Secretary Santos Cerdán. González denied collaborating with any so-called “sewer” operation or taking part in efforts to hinder judicial proceedings affecting the PSOE or the government, including people close to Pedro Sánchez. She said Cerdán and Díez had used her position for their own purposes.
González’s appearance was delayed. She was initially scheduled to testify on Thursday, but the session was postponed because of the lengthy questioning of Lieutenant General Manuel Llamas, the Guardia Civil’s deputy operational director. Llamas spent nearly two hours before the judge, denying that he pressured the Central Operative Unit (UCO) to “stand aside” in politically sensitive cases. He described himself as the target of a “smear campaign” and rejected claims that he had instructed the UCO to be less proactive in investigations involving the PSOE or the government.
Judge Pedraz formally opened an investigation into González and summoned Llamas after a request from the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, which cited possible offenses including malfeasance and obstruction of justice. The inquiry examines how the officials handled reserved internal investigations, as well as alleged contacts with people connected to Díez. In written submissions, Llamas distinguished UCO-related inquiries from three reserved investigations in other Guardia Civil units. He said the director general had not been notified when those three investigations opened or closed. That distinction is basic to determining whether information González received about UCO files was routine institutional reporting or improper intervention.
The broader investigation examines whether an alleged network linked to Díez, Cerdán and businessman Javier Pérez Dolset sought compromising information about judges and prosecutors, as well as Guardia Civil officers and UCO investigators, to discredit them or weaken politically sensitive proceedings. Reporting has also identified a group known as Hirurok. It involves Díez, former SEPI president Vicente Fernández and Antxon Alonso, Cerdán’s business associate in Servinabar. The investigation also covers alleged dealings involving public bodies and companies linked to Spain’s state industrial holdings agency, SEPI.
Judicial material cited in reporting documented at least 39 meetings between Díez and Cerdán, including 22 at the PSOE’s federal headquarters on Ferraz Street. The meetings were described as potentially involving coordination and updates about Díez’s activities. UCO records also identified several contacts between Díez and González, including a meeting in González’s official office in November 2024. Investigators are examining whether those contacts reflected legitimate institutional access or personal influence, including possible coordination related to efforts against sensitive investigations.
The original account identified at least three meetings between Díez and González, while González acknowledged two during a Senate appearance in June. She described the first as a professional introduction shortly after taking office and the second as a meeting at which Díez unsuccessfully sought the reinstatement of Commander Rubén Villalba, who is implicated in the Koldo case. Díez has denied that the PSOE commissioned her to act against a judge and rejected allegations involving a narcotics-related plot. Asked whether González had warned her that the UCO was investigating her, Díez declined to answer directly, saying: “When I have something to say, believe me, I know what I have to say.”
Earlier, Generals Rafael Yuste and Alfonso López Malo testified that they had received instructions for the UCO to adopt a less active stance in politically charged investigations. Llamas denied issuing such directives, saying he routinely advises investigative teams to let judges lead their cases. González also denied involvement in efforts to halt judicial investigations and described herself as a victim of Cerdán and the alleged network. The inquiry has intensified scrutiny of ties between law enforcement and political actors, amid wider concerns about judicial independence in Spain. Former Supreme Court president Carlos Lesmes has also warned of political pressure on the judiciary, a subject explored in a recent analysis of judicial independence challenges.
The case also includes financial inquiries into payments allegedly reaching Díez through companies associated with former Socialist official Gaspar Zarrías and lawyer Ismael Oliver. The UCO identified at least €43,225 as having originated from the PSOE and reached Díez through companies linked to the two men. PSOE manager Ana María Fuentes Pacheco reportedly told the court that Cerdán made the decision to hire lawyers Jacobo Teijelo and Oliver. Cerdán left his post as PSOE Organization Secretary in June 2025. Pedraz ordered the party to provide contracts and related documentation, while postponing a decision on whether to investigate the PSOE as a legal entity.
A separate Anti-Corruption inquiry concerns an alleged plan to inflate by €700,000 the rehabilitation cost of a Mercasa facility. The allegation involves Díez and Fernández; Alonso is also named. It relates to a proposed property operation and the justification for relocating the public company. A Mercasa audit reportedly found that Servinabar 2000 prepared a technical study before its contracting process and breached internal rules. The audit and compliance documents were sent to the UCO and incorporated into Pedraz’s proceedings on 19 October 2026.
The case has drawn attention to how internal investigations may be used as use within the state apparatus. Spain’s Guardia Civil operates under the dual authority of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Defense, and its leadership must handle politically sensitive matters. Allegations of interference or manipulation within the force can affect public confidence in law enforcement and perceptions of its impartiality. As the proceedings continue, their outcome may shape future protocols for internal oversight and define the boundaries between political and judicial authority in Spain.
