The Ministry of the Interior kept a dossier sorting dozens of journalists by their political leanings, setting off a political storm in Madrid. First reported by El Confidencial, the document listed names, photos and blunt labels such as "supports the Government," "aligned with right-wing positions" and "anti-sanchista." Euronews and Democrata reported that the dossier was completed in 2024 and arranged alphabetically. It covered reporters, editors, columnists and leaders of journalist associations.
PSOE leaders condemned the dossier as an "authentic barbarity" and warned that such practices are unacceptable and dangerous. Party officials stopped short of blaming Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska directly, calling the incident "tremendous" while insisting he was not responsible for day-to-day operations. Ministry sources told Democrata the document was an "internal informational document" intended to help understand the media field. They said Grande-Marlaska neither ordered nor knew about it before it became public.
Journalist associations, including FAPE and the Asociación de Periodistas Parlamentarios (APP), issued strong statements demanding an immediate end to political profiling by the government. They warned that such actions undermine press freedom and public trust. The dossier also included leaders and representatives of major professional associations, including APM, FAPE and APP, intensifying the reaction across the media sector. Demócrata and El Nacional reported that the groups called the dossier an unacceptable form of ideological profiling that damages confidence in institutions.
Inside the Ministry, officials tried to play down the controversy, describing the dossier as an "internal informational document" and insisting that the Communication Office treats all journalists equally, regardless of their views. The explanation did little to calm critics or the opposition. Euronews cited the Ministry's position that the document was a working tool, not intended for discrimination. That did not address the basic concerns raised by the press and political opponents.
Patxi López, PSOE’s spokesperson in Congress, said classifying people by ideology or opinion is fundamentally wrong. He called on the Ministry to explain itself but did not speculate further. Meanwhile, the Partido Popular seized on the scandal. Spokesperson Ester Muñoz accused Grande-Marlaska of ignoring major security lapses while keeping a "blacklist" of journalists, drawing comparisons to darker moments in Spain’s past. El Confidencial reported that the opposition is using the incident to demand accountability and question government transparency.
El Confidencial also reported that the dossier went beyond simple categorization, including subjective notes such as "critical of the amnesty," "moderate" and "increasingly combative." This has raised questions about the purpose and possible use of such files. Many journalists now fear surveillance or retaliation, particularly in an already polarized political climate.
Calls for accountability are growing, with journalists and politicians demanding transparency and safeguards against future abuses. The episode has also revived memories of past internal conflicts within Spanish political parties, including the recent withdrawal of Sara Oviedo from the PSOE mayoral race in Leganés, which exposed deep divisions and mistrust within party ranks.
Spain’s constitution protects press freedom and bans discrimination based on ideology. Government actions that appear to undermine these principles risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions. The Interior Ministry’s attempt to justify the dossier as routine internal work does not address the core issue: the state should not monitor journalists’ political positions. If unchecked, such practices threaten press independence and the credibility of those in power.
