Fear grows in the PSOE of a possible imputation of the party for the Leire case after the summer

The first judge in the Leire case has pointed to "other individuals with higher levels of hierarchy within the corruption network" of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). According to judicial documents obtained by media outlets, Judge Arturo Zamarriego, who initially investigated former PSOE militant Leire Díez over alleged attempts to influence judges, prosecutors, and members of the Guardia Civil, has concluded that the investigation should be transferred to Judge Santiago Pedraz of the National Court. This move comes after Zamarriego determined that the case involves individuals with greater authority within the alleged conspiracy aimed at obstructing legal proceedings against the party and the government. Zamarriego’s ruling, which was made available to journalists, outlines his reasoning for transferring the case. He stated that while Díez, along with businessman Javier Pérez Dolset and journalist Pere Rusiñol, were implicated in a coordinated scheme to obtain confidential or irregular information from high-ranking officials of the Guardia Civil's Central Operations Unit (UCO) and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, these three individuals might not occupy central roles in the broader network. The judge emphasized that the investigation into the National Court’s case includes individuals potentially holding more influential positions within the structure of the alleged corruption. Initially, Zamarriego had listed several key figures among the suspects, including former PSOE secretary of organization Santos Cerdán, the party’s managing director Ana María Fuentes, former Andalusian vice-president Gaspar Zarza, and lawyers Jacobo Teijelo and Ismael Oliver. As the probe advanced, additional names were added, such as the head of the Guardia Civil, Mercedes González, her predecessor Leonardo Marcos, and Juan Manuel Serrano, a former president of Correos and former chief of staff to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. According to Zamarriego, the evidence gathered during searches of residences and businesses indicated that Díez likely received support and financial backing from Cerdán, who allegedly agreed to compensate her using party funds. The judge suggested that Zarza, Teijelo, and Oliver may have used their companies as vehicles to channel payments, while Fuentes issued instructions for the creation of false invoices facilitating the transfer of money from the Aptoide platform to Díez and Pérez Dolset. Zamarriego further noted that the actions under investigation appear closely linked to the crimes being probed by the National Court. He argued that a unified investigation would allow for more efficient processing, enabling the interrogation of all suspects and determining the origin of the funds received by Díez. This approach, he claimed, would facilitate a more comprehensive and effective inquiry. Judge Pedraz, who has been investigating a broader conspiracy involving political figures, militants, lawyers, and businessmen aiming to destabilize judicial processes affecting the PSOE and the government, has long maintained that the cases should be consolidated. In June, Pedraz requested that Zamarriego transfer the case, arguing that the scope of the investigation exceeds what can be handled independently. The National Court’s judge has previously cited the involvement of Cerdán and Díez in efforts to undermine ongoing investigations. The decision to unify the cases follows months of legal maneuvering. The defense of Díez, led by lawyer Eva Bejarano, had challenged the move, claiming it violated her rights by opening a parallel investigation into the same incidents already under scrutiny in Madrid. Bejarano argued that the inclusion of new suspects, such as Cerdán, who had previously testified before Zamarriego, could compromise the integrity of the process. The initial investigation by Zamarriego began in July 2025, following a complaint filed by the ultra-Catholic group Hazte Oír. The complaint stemmed from a recording released by El Confidencial in May 2025, in which Díez was allegedly offering favors to businessman Alejandro Hamlyn, who was under investigation for fraud in the hydrocarbon industry, in exchange for information against the Guardia Civil and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. In late 2025, the National Court ordered the detention of Díez, former SEPI president Vicente Fernández, and businessman Antxon Alonso over alleged irregularities in public contracts. Months later, it emerged that the court was also examining a plot aimed at undermining judicial procedures affecting the PSOE or the government. Pedraz then directed the Guardia Civil to inspect the headquarters of the socialist party and formally charged Cerdán, citing his role in orchestrating the alleged conspiracy. The consolidation of the cases marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the PSOE. It signals a shift toward a more centralized and expansive investigation, implicating figures at both the grassroots and leadership levels of the party. With the National Court taking charge, the focus will remain on uncovering the extent of the alleged coordination and identifying those responsible for the alleged obstruction of justice.