Spain's PP has called for Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Guardia Civil chief Mercedes González to appear in Congress. The move follows claims of political pressure on Guardia Civil commanders regarding Madrid's 2025 regional holiday.
The Partido Popular (PP) has formally requested that Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Guardia Civil director Mercedes González appear before the Interior Committee in Congress. The demand comes after reports surfaced alleging that senior Guardia Civil officers faced political pressure not to attend the official May 2, 2025, ceremony in Madrid, an event marking the Community of Madrid's regional holiday.
According to information published by ABC, the controversy centers on claims that Fernando Mora, head of the Guardia Civil's Madrid division, reported receiving a politically motivated directive. This instruction, allegedly relayed by Lieutenant General Luis del Castillo, was said to originate from Mercedes González herself. The directive reportedly advised that the Guardia Civil should not participate in the institutional event attended by Madrid's regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
The PP's request for explanations is accompanied by a series of parliamentary questions. The party seeks to clarify whether the Ministry of the Interior or the Guardia Civil's leadership has launched any internal investigation into the matter, or if they were previously aware of the alleged pressure. In its statement, the PP described the situation as extremely serious, arguing that it points to partisan use of the Guardia Civil's chain of command and an attempt to influence the institution's public representation for political ends.
The party further emphasized that such actions, if confirmed, would be incompatible with the neutrality expected from Spain's law enforcement agencies. The PP insists that immediate clarification is needed from the country's top political officials to address concerns about the impartiality of the Guardia Civil and the integrity of institutional events.
Spain's Guardia Civil is a national law enforcement body with both military and civilian functions, often present at official ceremonies and regional commemorations. The May 2 holiday in Madrid is a significant annual event, commemorating the 1808 uprising against French occupation. Political tensions between regional and national authorities have occasionally surfaced around such public events, reflecting broader debates over institutional roles and political influence in Spain. The current dispute highlights ongoing sensitivities regarding the separation of political interests from the operational independence of security forces. As of now, no official response has been issued by the Ministry of the Interior or the Guardia Civil's leadership regarding the PP's demands.
