Madrid (Spain), July 2 (LaPresse) – The director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes Gonzalez, is under investigation as part of the inquiry into an alleged plot that sought to obstruct judicial proceedings considered inconvenient for the Socialist Party and the government of Pedro Sanchez. Also under investigation are former PSOE Organization Secretary Santos Cerdan and former PSOE member Leire Diez. Investigating judge of Spain’s National Court, Santiago Pedraz, has summoned Mercedes Gonzalez to testify on July 16, according to the order seen by LaPresse. The deputy operational director of the Civil Guard (DAO), Manuel Llamas, has also been placed under investigation. According to Pedraz, “there is evidence of the responsibility” of Mercedes Gonzalez and Manuel Llamas “in acts which, at first sight and subject to the outcome of further investigations, could constitute the continued offence of abuse of office” and “an offence against the administration of justice”. The request to place the director of the Civil Guard and the deputy operational director of the force under investigation had been made by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution. According to investigators, Leire Díez, who was a PSOE member, allegedly attempted to instigate an investigation against the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard and to obstruct investigations into Socialist Party members and government officials. To this end, she allegedly contacted the director of the Civil Guard. According to the UCO, Mercedes Gonzalez and Leire Díez met at least three times between September 2024 and April 2025. The investigation led UCO officers to raid the PSOE headquarters in Madrid, on Calle Ferraz, on May 27, during Pedro Sanchez’s trip to Rome and the Vatican.
Spain, investigation into former PSOE member: Civil Guard director under investigation
Madrid (Spain), July 2 (LaPresse) – The director of the Civil Guard, Mercedes Gonzalez, is under investigation as part of the inquiry into an alleged plot that sought to obstruct judicial proceedings considered inconvenient for the Socialist Party and the government of Pedro Sanchez. Also under investigation are former PSOE Organization Secretary Santos Cerdan and former PSOE member Leire Diez. Investigating judge of Spain’s National Court, Santiago Pedraz, has summoned Mercedes Gonzalez to testify on July 16, according to the order seen by LaPresse. The deputy operational director of the Civil Guard (DAO), Manuel Llamas, has also been placed under investigation. According to Pedraz, “there is evidence of the responsibility” of Mercedes Gonzalez and Manuel Llamas “in acts which, at first sight and subject to the outcome of further investigations, could constitute the continued offence of abuse of office” and “an offence against the administration of justice”. The request to place the director of the Civil Guard and the deputy operational director of the force under investigation had been made by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution. According to investigators, Leire Díez, who was a PSOE member, allegedly attempted to instigate an investigation against the Central Operational Unit of the Civil Guard and to obstruct investigations into Socialist Party members and government officials. To this end, she allegedly contacted the director of the Civil Guard. According to the UCO, Mercedes Gonzalez and Leire Díez met at least three times between September 2024 and April 2025. The investigation led UCO officers to raid the PSOE headquarters in Madrid, on Calle Ferraz, on May 27, during Pedro Sanchez’s trip to Rome and the Vatican.
