The Madrid court has transferred the case against ex-PSOE member Leire Díez to the Audiencia Nacional. Judge Santiago Pedraz will now lead the investigation into the alleged plot to disrupt judicial proceedings affecting the PSOE and government.
The ongoing investigation into Leire Díez, a former PSOE member accused of orchestrating a scheme to disrupt judicial cases involving the party and the government, will now be handled exclusively by the Audiencia Nacional. The Madrid court, led by Judge Arturo Zamarriego, has formally relinquished control, consolidating all proceedings under Judge Santiago Pedraz. This move follows a request from the prosecution and is expected to streamline the complex case, which has drawn significant attention due to its political implications.
According to documentation reviewed by EL PAÍS, Judge Zamarriego signed an order on Tuesday that cancels all pending actions in the Madrid court, including a scheduled review of a key recording submitted by prosecutor Ignacio Stampa, one of the main complainants against Díez. The decision comes after the prosecution, represented by Rosa Calvo, argued that the scope of the investigation in the Audiencia Nacional is broader and more interconnected than the Madrid proceedings. Calvo emphasized the close link between the two cases and supported the transfer to ensure a unified approach.
In recent months, Díez’s defense team filed several appeals seeking to annul or block the parallel case in the Audiencia Nacional, claiming it duplicated charges for the same alleged acts for which Díez has been under investigation in Madrid since July 2025. Despite these efforts, the prosecution maintained that the national court’s jurisdiction was justified, given the wider context and potential impact on judicial processes involving the PSOE and the government.
The transfer of the case to Judge Pedraz marks a significant procedural shift. All investigative efforts will now be centralized, potentially accelerating the resolution of a matter that has already seen legal maneuvering from both sides. The case has highlighted ongoing tensions within Spanish political and judicial circles, especially as it involves allegations of attempts to influence or destabilize sensitive legal proceedings. For context, recent developments within the PSOE, such as the appointment of María Jesús Montero as deputy spokesperson in the Senate, have also underscored the party’s efforts to manage internal and external challenges. Details on this reshuffle can be found in the report on Montero’s new Senate role.
The Audiencia Nacional is Spain’s principal court for major criminal and political cases, often handling matters with national significance or cross-jurisdictional complexity. Its involvement in the Díez case signals the seriousness with which authorities are treating the alleged plot. While the investigation continues, the legal process will now proceed under a single authority, potentially reducing procedural delays and conflicting rulings. The outcome could have broader implications for how similar cases are managed in the future, especially those involving political figures or allegations of interference in the justice system.
