Chief Auditor Resigns in Andalusia Following Data Leak Scandal. The chief auditor of Andalusia has stepped down over his connection to the Leire Díez case. His appointment and subsequent dismissal sparked a sharp reaction. Regional authorities have found themselves in the spotlight.
A new scandal has erupted in Andalusia following the resignation of Miguel Ángel Figueroa, who held the post of the region's chief auditor. His departure is linked to reports of possible connections with the alleged scheme involving Leire Díez, a former socialist who, according to investigators, may have received confidential information from Figueroa during his tenure in the central government.
Figueroa's appointment as chief auditor in early 2025 immediately sparked controversy. He came from the Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), where he had been invited by his friend and then-president Vicente Fernández. In his first days on the job in Andalusia, Figueroa dismissed half of the division heads—four out of eight—which was an unprecedented move for the institution. The opposition described this as a 'purge' and accused the authorities of trying to control regional financial audits.
The driving force behind Figueroa's move to the regional government was Amelia Martínez, Deputy Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds. She personally invited him from SEPI to head the Intervención General, which is responsible for auditing and controlling government spending in Andalusia. Within the department, his appointment caused surprise and mistrust, and after the information about connections to the Díez case emerged, the situation only worsened. According to a former high-ranking official of the Intervención General, Figueroa was brought in specifically to prevent inconvenient reports for the government from surfacing before the elections, and he did in fact suspend many audits.
The context of personnel changes in Spanish government bodies remains tense. In similar cases, the procedures for appointments and potential influence from politicians have already become the subject of legal proceedings, as was the case with the Prime Minister’s brother in Badajoz — details of this case were previously published by russpain.com.
For reference: the Intervención General de Andalucía is a key financial oversight body where only experienced civil servants are appointed. In recent years, Spain has seen increased attention to the transparency and independence of such institutions, especially amid high-profile corruption cases. Any suspicion of information leaks or political pressure on auditors causes a stir and can lead to personnel changes at the highest level.
