Spanish police entered the PSOE headquarters in Madrid to gather material under judicial orders for a National Court investigation. The search was limited to evidence relevant to an inquiry led by judge Santiago Pedraz into accusations of possible wrongdoing by PSOE member Leire Diez. The police action followed a judicial request for specific information with prior notice, rather than an unannounced broad search. The investigation relates to allegations that Diez may have received party payments connected to attempts to discredit a Civil Guard anticorruption unit member and to influence state prosecutors. The move follows a separate formal investigation of former Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero tied to a government airline bailout, which he denied. PSOE representatives said the party was calm and cooperating with the courts.
"Police officers entered the PSOE premises on Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported, quoting a Civil Guard spokesperson. The Civil Guard told The Associated Press news agency that the police were under judicial orders to find material relevant to a National Court inquiry into accusations of corruption against former party members and other individuals. The police said the search is strictly limited to the inquiry, led by National Court judge Santiago Pedraz, into the possible wrongdoing of PSOE member Leire Diez."
"The development comes after former Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was placed under formal investigation last week in connection with a government airline bailout. He has denied any wrongdoing. PSOE spokesperson Montse Minguez told local Catalunya Radio that the party was calm and fully cooperating with the courts, stressing that any information requested would be handed over. Police were following a judicial request for information, which requires prior notice and targets specific items, as distinct from an entry and search carried out without prior notice to gather all kinds of evidence, reported Reuters."
"The case against Diez started in 2025 when audio recordings appeared in Spanish media of her apparent involvement in attempts to discredit a member of the Civil Guard's anticorruption unit, the AP reported. Further reports linked her to alleged attempts to influence the work of state prosecutors. The judge's inquiry is targeted at seeing if Diez received payments from the party to allegedly carry out these efforts."
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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