Santos Cerdán responds to his imputation in the Leire case: "The objective is to destroy annoying citizens"

Madrid"The objective is not to investigate crimes, but to destroy people and ruin the prestige, name, and honorability of certain citizens whom sectors of the State perceive as bothersome." Santos Cerdán breaks his silence – in writing – a week after it became known that the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard considers that he led a "criminal structure" to "obstruct" judicial proceedings. "I claim my innocence and declare my absolute and radical denial of any criminal act attributed to me," he alleges in a statement made public this morning. The former number 3 of the PSOE accuses the Judicial Police of "selecting targets" and "directing open operations" with the aim of "finding something that can be used to tarnish his image and undermine his public credibility." "Only in this way can it be understood that my name has been circulating successively and progressively in different matters," he alleges, in reference to the purchase of masks, public works contracts, or the financing of the PSOE.

Cerdán denies that there was on his part "any organic relationship, much less one of superiority" with the so-called Hirurok group – which the UCO says was made up of Leire Díez, the former president of SEPI Vicente Fernández and the Basque businessman Antxon Alonso – or "any other plot under investigation". And he assures that "there is no message or communication" that he has issued that "allows it to be substantiated". Likewise, he recalls that he declared as a witness in the framework of the Leire case investigation that was underway in the Madrid courts and regrets that "no one has given any explanation" about the "necessity (and legality) of a second parallel investigation".

Finally, he complains that a year ago he was "the subject of a similar media campaign" following the Civil Guard's report on public works that led to his resignation and his subsequent imprisonment. He recalls that the accusation that he had collected 5 million euros "had to be justified with a patrimonial report" and regrets that, a year later, he is still waiting for it.

Marlaska maintains confidence in the director of the Civil Guard

First thing, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has closed ranks with the Director General of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, 12 hours after she admitted to having held two meetings – without ruling out a third – with Leire Díez. "She had no contact with Leire nor any conversation related to the plot, absolutely serious facts that make me uncomfortable," he stated in declarations to the press. "As long as these meetings have been in the manner described, I have no reason to doubt," added the minister, who showed himself to be "absolutely convinced of the honorability and honesty" of her work.

Mercedes González assures that she cut off her relationship with Leire Díez as soon as, in April 2025, she asked for Commander Rubén Villalba to be reinstated, who was removed from the force because he is being investigated in the Koldo case and with whom the PSOE "plumber" has met on occasion. Meanwhile, the PP continues its offensive and will force the appearance of the Director of the Civil Guard in the Senate's Interior Committee. The popular party's objective is for her to resign or be dismissed and to give explanations next week: "Her situation is unsustainable," denounce PP sources.

For their part, Minister Félix Bolaños has maintained that there is "absolutely nothing" in the summary that "proves" or "leads to think" that Pedro Sánchez was aware of Leire Díez's activity and movements. The head of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts considers that the facts, if confirmed, are "very serious" and believes that the former PSOE militant was using the Spanish president's name "to give herself importance".