The Ministry of the Interior faces pressure to decide Antonio Balas’ future as head of the anti-corruption department within the Guardia Civil’s Unidad Central Operativa (UCO). His imminent promotion to colonel could force him to leave the unit. Balas has led several high-profile investigations involving the PSOE and government figures, making the decision over his role unusually sensitive.
Balas’ promotion is set to be formalized in the coming days in the Ministry of Defence’s official bulletin. It typically requires a move to a post matching his new rank. But a formal request from National Court judge Ismael Moreno and the public prosecutor has complicated the process. Both have asked that Balas remain in charge of the “Koldo case,” which centers on alleged corruption within the Ministry of Transport during José Luis Ábalos’ tenure. The request has left the Guardia Civil’s leadership weighing whether to keep Balas at UCO, and on what terms.
The promotion itself was expected: Balas ranks sixth among lieutenant colonels due for elevation as of July 1. The timing is fraught, but. Tensions between the Guardia Civil and the government have escalated since an investigation led by Balas resulted in charges against director general Mercedes González and her deputy, Lieutenant General Manuel Llamas. They are accused of pressuring the unit to hinder probes affecting the PSOE and the family of Pedro Sánchez.
Information from sources within the force, the judge’s request makes it almost inevitable that Balas will stay at UCO for now, especially given the language used by the magistrate and prosecutor Luis Pastor. The court said Balas’ continued leadership is impressive “for as long as necessary” to complete the investigation. It cited his central role in uncovering alleged wrongdoing by Ábalos and his former adviser Koldo García.
The Guardia Civil can keep Balas in his current role through a “commission of service,” which allows officers to temporarily occupy posts outside their formal rank. There is precedent: two other UCO lieutenant colonels remained in their posts after promotion for operational reasons. Such commissions typically last up to a year, with extensions possible in exceptional cases.
Several internal steps must take place before an extension is granted. First, UCO chief Colonel Pedro Merino must submit a report assessing whether Balas should remain in charge. The Judicial Police Command, headed by General Alfonso López Malo, then reviews it. López Malo, a former UCO chief, has previously testified in related cases, reinforcing suspicions of external pressure on the unit. Internal reviews in similar situations have generally supported continued service, but the final decision rests with the General Staff, which oversees personnel policy. Sources say approval is likely, given how often these commissions are used.
How Balas would remain at UCO is still uncertain. One option is to keep him as head of the anti-corruption department, leaving the lieutenant colonel’s post unfilled and allowing him to oversee all ongoing and future investigations during his commission. Alternatively, his role could be limited to cases where judges have specifically requested his involvement. In that scenario, a new competition would fill the department head position, and the appointee would take over other investigations. The dual-leadership arrangement could create internal friction. Some lieutenant colonels have reportedly been approached about applying for the post, so far without success.
Balas became a public figure in May last year after a video surfaced showing Leire Díez, a former PSOE member, and businessman Javier Pérez Dolset trying to persuade another businessman, Alejandro Hamlyn, to provide compromising information about Balas. The recording included the phrase, “If Balas is dead, better,” underscoring the stakes of the investigations he leads. By then, Balas was already at the center of UCO’s most sensitive probes involving the government and PSOE.
He directed the search of then Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz’s office on October 30, 2024, and defended a basic report before the Supreme Court that implicated the prosecutor in leaks targeting Isabel Díaz Ayuso’s partner. His testimony was also impressive to the convictions handed down by the Badajoz Provincial Court against David Sánchez, the prime minister’s brother, former Extremadura PSOE leader Miguel Ángel Gallardo, and others over alleged irregularities in public contracts.
Balas also testified in the trial that resulted in Ábalos’ 24-year prison sentence for corruption. He has also been involved in the investigation of Begoña Gómez, the prime minister’s wife. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado ordered her to stand trial on charges of embezzlement, influence peddling, business corruption, and misappropriation of a trademark.
The situation echoes other recent cases in which institutions have clashed over the future of senior officials. For example, the appointment of former Madrid regional leaders to advisory roles, covered in this analysis of Madrid’s commission appointments, shows how personnel decisions can carry broader political and operational consequences.
In Spain, the UCO is a basic investigative body within the Guardia Civil and often handles complex corruption and organized crime cases. Balas’ case could set a precedent for how the force handles promotions and judicial requests in politically sensitive investigations. The coming weeks should clarify whether the Interior Ministry prioritizes operational continuity or follows established personnel protocols.
