The National Court releases Leire Díez, the former president of SEPI, and businessman Antxon Alonso with precautionary measures

MadridPedro Sánchez's government is increasingly dependent on the courts. Anxiety is spreading among the Socialist ranks, especially after a week that has brought two new developments: five arrests These events have brought to light two new cases—which remain secret—and a Civil Guard report that once again implicates José Luis Ábalos. These are ongoing investigations into issues that strike at the heart of the Spanish president's political roadmap and the origins of his rise to power. Of the five arrested, the National Court has released former Socialist Party member Leire Díez, Vicente Fernández Guerrero, former president of SEPI (State Holding Company for Industrial Participations), and Basque businessman Antxon Alonso, owner of the company Servinabar and a friend of Santos Cerdán, former PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) organizational secretary. All five were released with precautionary measures (passport confiscation and periodic court appearances) after the prosecution did not request their imprisonment.

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Leire Díez – the former socialist activist known as plumber from the PSOE– She was arrested on Wednesday in an investigation related to public contracts. However, her name rose to prominence last May due to her covert maneuvers to try to dismantle the cases against Pedro Sánchez's inner circle. In a meeting with prosecutor Ignacio Stampa, she presented herself as the Santos Cerdán's "right-hand man" that "will never appear anywhere." But it came to light when she was overheard asking for compromising information about Antonio Balas, a leader of the UCO (Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard). This led to her being investigated by a court in MadridAlong with businessman Javier Pérez Dolset and journalist Pere Rusiñol.

The same new case brought by the National Court on Wednesday led to the arrest of Antxon Alonso, the owner of Servinabar. This is the company that partnered with Acciona to secure the public contracts being investigated by the Supreme Court, and of which the Civil Guard maintains that Santos Cerdán held a 45% stake – a claim he has consistently denied. The third arrest was that of Vicente Fernández Guerrero, who was president of SEPI from Sánchez's arrival at La Moncloa until his dismissal in 2019. He later worked at Servinabar. José Vicente Berlanga, former president of the public company Enusa, is also under investigation. Furthermore, in recent days there have been nineteen searches at various locations across the country, and agents from the UCO (Central Operative Unit) have visited the Post Office and the headquarters of the Ministries of Finance and Ecological Transition with requests for information. The following day, a case from Madrid's Court of Instruction Number 15 regarding the airline Plus Ultra—rescued with public funds in 2021—came to light, concerning alleged money laundering. As part of this investigation, also kept secret, Julio Martínez—the airline's owner—and Roberto Roselli—the company's CEO—were arrested. This Saturday, National Court Judge Antonio Piña released Díez, Fernández, and Alonso with precautionary measures. Prosecutor Elisa Lamelas did not request imprisonment and asked that the three be released with the requirement to appear in court and have their passports surrendered, after Fernández and Alonso appeared before the magistrate this morning.

Public works and face masks in the Supreme Court and the National Court

Returning to the Supreme Court, Santos Cerdán – who was Sánchez's right-hand man until fifteen days before entering prison, where he Five months passed– is under investigation by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard He considered himself "in charge of managing" commissions in exchange for public works contracts. In total, he was talking about 620,000 euros inbites" which was shared with José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García. The nine contracts under suspicion amount to 623 million euros, most of which correspond to Acciona.

A second report from the UCO It indicated that Acciona paid Servinabar 2% of the contracts it won – a percentage that the company's former executives under investigation attributed to services rendered – and detailed the "considerations" that he received the inner circle of the former PSOE leader. For example, the rental of an apartment for him worth 62,000 euros, salaries totaling 85,000 euros for his wife, sister, and brother-in-law, and a Servinabar credit card with which his wife spent 33,000 euros.

The judge has focused more on the business aspect of the investigation into the purchase of face masks during the pandemic. According to the investigating judge, the company at the center of the alleged scheme, Soluciones de Gestión, sold face masks to various public bodies for more than 50 million euros. Víctor de Aldama allegedly made a profit of 3.7 million euros from sales to Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority) and Adif (Spain's railway infrastructure manager). To exert his influence, the judge maintains that Aldama paid Ábalos and Koldo 10,000 euros per month from 2019 to 2021. On Thursday, the investigating judge He sent the three to courtwhich is scheduled to take place at the end of February.

Public works and face masks are also under scrutiny by the National Court. In the first case, Isabel Pardo de Vera – former president of Adif – and Javier Herrero – former director general of Highways – are among those charged. In the second, Koldo García, Víctor de Aldama, three former high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Transport – including the former secretary general of State Ports – and nineteen other people are being investigated.

Still within the National Court, there are two more cases with echoes of the Koldo García case. The first is the hydrocarbons scheme linked to Villafuel. On Thursday, a report from the UCO (Central Operative Unit of the Civil Guard) was released, alleging that the scheme achieved a "possible penetration" into the Ministry of Industry under Reyes Maroto and the Ministry for Ecological Transition under Teresa Ribera, with the aim of influencing authorization to operate in the wholesale market. He allocated one million euros. For example, he bought a villa in Cádiz for 585,000 euros for Ábalos: "He had physical possession of the property and enjoyed it," the UCO stated. The second case relates to the payments made by the PSOE in envelopesFor now, the judge has requested information and documentation from Ferraz regarding all cash payments between 2017 and 2024.

Begoña Gómez and David Sánchez

Finally, there are two other cases involving Pedro Sánchez's personal circle: those of his wife and his brother. These are the cases that have led the Spanish president to accuse the judges who initiated them of "playing politics." Begoña Gómez is being investigated primarily for her role as co-director of a master's program at the Complutense University of Madrid. Also under investigation in the case are his advisor at Moncloa Palace, Cristina Álvarez, and the businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado wants the trial—if it goes ahead—to be held with a jury. David Sánchez will be tried starting at the end of May for the creation of his position at the Badajoz Provincial Council. The leader of the PSOE in Extremadura and candidate in next week's elections, Miguel Ángel Gallardo, will also be in the dock.