Marlaska closes files with the director of the Civil Guard, pointed out by the summary of the Leire case
The minister denies having known "any action" to undermine the work of the UCO: "I would not have tolerated it"
BarcelonaThe Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, made a strong defense this Thursday of the director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, after the summary of the Leire Díez case indicated that she had met at least on three occasions with the investigated former socialist militant. "What I am aware of is her exemplary conduct at all times and her complete honesty [...]. Exemplarity and honesty," he insisted in statements to the media, adding that González's "loyalty to legality" is guaranteed.
Both the director of the police force and Marlaska have so far denied the meetings with Díez that the investigation points to, but the indications in the summary point in the opposite direction. Thus, according to the annexes of the summary, the former militant, considered a PSOE operative, was fined for parking incorrectly during one of her alleged visits to González on December 20, 2024. The fine was received by the former president of SEPI (State Industrial Holdings Company, the State's investment arm) Vicente Fernández, who forwarded it to Díez with the following message: "I have received this parking ticket of yours [...] I think it's from when you went to meet the director general of the GC. I'll pay it to you at a discount," he told her, as reported by the Efe agency.
Beyond the three alleged meetings between Díez and González – the last one in April 2025 – the UCO has intervened WhatsApp conversations that would indicate a relationship of trust between the two. "My next conversation will be with the director of the Civil Guard [...], she is trustworthy" or "I have to speak with Mercedes. There is no trust with Marlaska. I'll call her today," are some of the messages from the former socialist militant in her conversations with third parties. Investigators believe she would have used this channel for her mission to dismantle cases affecting those close to the PSOE and the Spanish government. "Remember that I am friends with the DG of the GC," she even said in a communication with the former president of SEPI.
In statements to the media, Marlaska wanted to make it clear that he personally had no knowledge of "any action that could be aimed at undermining the work of the UCO [Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard]", from where several of the cases that implicate socialists have been investigated. The summary indicates that Díez, along with former leader Santos Cerdán, formed a group to deactivate these cases and "protect the interests" of the socialists and Pedro Sánchez and his government. The minister assured that, if he had known about these maneuvers, he would not have "tolerated" them.
After once again expressing his defense of the "neutrality and professionalism" of the Civil Guard, he recalled that, when the first details of the alleged scheme became known a year ago, both he and the director of the Civil Guard conveyed their "absolute support" to the UCO commanders and ended by guaranteeing that this unit, as well as the armed institute in general and the National Police, work under judicial order with "absolute independence".
The UCO enters Tubos Reunidos and SEPI
In parallel, the investigations linked to the alleged scheme that implicates the PSOE continue. The UCO entered the company Tubos Reunidos in Bilbao and its factory in Amurrio this Thursday, as well as the SEPI headquarters in Madrid. As ARA has been able to confirm, the agents made information requests there by order of the National High Court judge Santiago Pedraz, who is investigating the Leire case.
A few days ago, the judge partially lifted the secrecy of the sumary of this case, although he kept a separate piece under reserve. It is within the framework of this branch of the case that the UCO is carrying out the investigations this Thursday. The company Tubos Reunidos, however, is named several times in the sumary, which suggests that it would have received preferential treatment from the administration and at least one state loan of 112.8 million euros. Awaiting statements from this industrial group, SEPI sources have reiterated to the Efe agency their "maximum collaboration with justice".