PSOE under scrutiny: Payments and maneuvers against prosecutors and police

National High Court points to alleged PSOE payments for judicial maneuvers

The National High Court has focused on an alleged scheme by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) involving payments to Leire Díez to carry out maneuvers aimed at destabilizing judicial and police investigations affecting party or government members. Judge Manuel García-Castellano has indicted key figures such as Santos Cerdán, former PSOE Organization Secretary, Gaspar Zarrías, former councilor of the Junta de Andalucía, and the current party manager, in a new development of the case investigating Díez.

The role of Santos Cerdán and the origin of the operation

According to the judicial order, Santos Cerdán allegedly played a "superior role" in a plan to "systematically and continuously destabilize" judicial cases. He is attributed with the agreement to remunerate Leire Díez with 4,000 euros per month from party funds. This operation, according to the magistrate, originated from the five-day reflection that Pedro Sánchez announced in April 2024 following the indictment of his wife, Begoña Gómez. During this period, Cerdán convened a key meeting at the PSOE's federal headquarters in Madrid.

The Guardia Civil found in Leire Díez's possession a note suggesting that contact with the PSOE intensified after Begoña Gómez's indictment. Pérez Dolset, an involved businessman, claims to have financed a group of people to seek evidence of judicial irregularities during the PP government, considering himself a victim of the "political brigade."

Payment mechanisms and financing of the scheme

Judge Pedraz details how payments to Leire Díez would have been channeled. Initially, the consultancy firm Zaño, owned by Gaspar Zarrías, was allegedly used to pay 16,000 euros over four months starting in June 2024. Leire Díez expressed doubts about this payment method through Zarrías's office. After this channel ceased, payments were allegedly redirected through lawyer Ismael Oliver, who defended Koldo García. Falsified order forms were allegedly used to pay 27,225 euros to a company owned by Oliver, who then transferred the sum to Leire Díez through another of his companies to "break the traceability of the funds." Both the PSOE manager and Oliver are under indictment.

Investigators suggest that, once Santos Cerdán agreed to collaborate with Díez's group, he made the PSOE's own structure available to the party. This would have involved covering activity costs, using party personnel, providing facilities for meetings, and covering logistics expenses.

Attempts to influence witnesses and police actions

The judicial resolution also points to attempts to influence witnesses. Businesswoman Carmen Pano is mentioned, who declared having handed over up to 90,000 euros at the Ferraz headquarters. She was allegedly offered 50,000 euros to change her testimony. Koldo García's lawyer, Leticia de la Hoz, has denied these accusations, citing confidential reasons for Pano's expulsion from her firm.

Furthermore, the group allegedly attempted to "disturb the normal functioning of the operations of the UCO" (Central Operative Unit of the Guardia Civil). This would have included promoting suspicions about the UCO to the Directorate General of the Guardia Civil, which led to the opening of preliminary information files on civil guards. The judge has also requested documentation from the PSC regarding advertising campaigns managed by Patricia López or Grupo Crónica Libre, linked to the investigation.

This case sheds light on complex operations involving party funds and alleged maneuvers to influence judicial and police processes, generating a crucial debate about integrity in politics. The investigation remains open to clarify all responsibilities.