Spain’s essential prosecutors’ associations are calling for the resignation of Legal professional Common Álvaro García Ortíz, who was formally indicted on Tuesday for allegedly leaking confidential data from an investigation involving the associate of a outstanding opposition chief.
García Ortíz, who has served as Spain’s prime prosecutor since August 2022, has been beneath investigation since early June for disclosing to the press an electronic mail containing private information referring to a judicial probe into Alberto González Amador, the businessman and associate of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, chief of Madrid’s Standard Get together. González Amador is beneath investigation for alleged tax fraud and forgery.
“García Ortiz ought to resign as a way to defend himself as a non-public citizen – unbiased of the establishment – reasonably than as legal professional normal,” Cristina Dexeus, president of the Prosecutors’ Affiliation (AF), informed Euractiv, describing his continued presence as inflicting “vital reputational injury” to the Spanish prosecution service.
The Spanish Affiliation of Unbiased Prosecutors (APIF) has formally requested that the choose overseeing García Ortiz’s case on the Supreme Court docket droop him briefly. The choose has requested the Public Prosecutor’s Workplace to reply inside three days, Euractiv’s associate Servimedia reviews.
The progressive prosecutors’ affiliation (UPF), to which García Ortiz belonged earlier than changing into legal professional normal, stated in a press release it “strongly disagrees” with Tuesday’s indictment.
When in Madrid…
Regardless of mounting strain, Spain’s authorities has closed ranks across the legal professional normal.
“We assist the actions of the state’s legal professional normal. We consider in his innocence. He has the endorsement and assist of the federal government,” Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez informed journalists following the announcement.
“He has achieved and continues to do a powerful job,” stated First Vice-President and Finance Minister María Jesús Montero.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles took a extra cautious line, stating that the choice to resign is in the end “his private alternative.”
Below Spanish regulation, attorneys normal are appointed by the federal government, a observe that has raised issues in Brussels.
The European Fee’s 2025 Rule of Regulation Report advisable that Spain strengthen the “independence and autonomy of the prosecution” from the federal government.
Additional doubts concerning the prosecution’s independence have been fuelled by mounting corruption scandals surrounding Sánchez’s inside circle, which have already pressured a number of key figures to resign.
A listening to of the legal professional normal is predicted to happen this Autumn, reported El País.
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