MADRID — In a landmark decision that has reverberated through Spain's political and judicial corridors, the Supreme Court convicted Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz on November 20, 2025, for leaking confidential information in a tax fraud investigation involving Alberto González Amador, the partner of Madrid's regional president and prominent conservative leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The ruling, a 5-2 split among the seven-judge panel, marks the first time in Spanish history that a sitting attorney general has been found guilty of such misconduct, imposing a two-year ban from public office, a fine of €7,200, and €10,000 in moral damages to the affected party. This unprecedented verdict delivers a significant blow to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)-led minority government, already beleaguered by multiple corruption probes, and intensifies the partisan warfare ahead of potential snap elections.
García Ortiz, a career prosecutor appointed by Sánchez in February 2022 to replace Dolores Delgado amid her own ethical controversies, was accused of disclosing sensitive details from an ongoing tax evasion probe against González Amador. The scandal traces back to March 2024, when media outlets reported that prosecutors had proactively offered González Amador a plea deal to admit two counts of tax fraud totaling €350,951 in evaded payments via a scheme of false invoices, thereby avoiding a trial and potential prison time. In response, the Attorney General's Office issued a press release on March 14, 2024, clarifying that it was González Amador's legal team who had initiated the settlement proposal on February 2, 2024, and that the accused had explicitly admitted to the offenses in an email exchange. Prosecutors later alleged that García Ortiz had personally leaked the contents of that email to journalists hours earlier, on March 13, to counter what they described as a misleading narrative propagated by Ayuso's communications team.
The leak's timing was particularly incendiary, occurring amid heightened national tensions over regional governance and fiscal policies. Ayuso, a rising star in the conservative People's Party (PP) and a fierce critic of Sánchez's progressive agenda—including his handling of the Catalonia independence crisis and economic reforms—had positioned herself as a potential prime ministerial contender. Her partner's tax investigation, initiated by the Madrid Prosecutor's Office in late 2023, quickly escalated into a proxy battle between the central socialist government and Madrid's right-wing regional administration. Ayuso's allies accused the leak of being a deliberate smear to undermine her credibility during a period of delicate national political maneuvering, including budget negotiations and EU fund allocations. González Amador, a 45-year-old businessman in the hospitality sector, filed a formal complaint in May 2024, claiming the disclosure violated his right to privacy under Spain's Organic Law on Data Protection and constituted the crime of "revelation of secrets" under Article 197 of the Penal Code.
The Supreme Court's investigation, which began in earnest after formal charges in May 2024, unfolded over 18 months and culminated in a high-profile trial from November 12-14, 2025. During proceedings, García Ortiz vehemently denied direct involvement, testifying that he had neither authored the leak nor ordered it, and framing the press release as a necessary clarification of public facts to maintain institutional transparency. His defense argued there was "absolutely no documentary evidence" linking him to the email's dissemination, emphasizing that multiple witnesses—including fellow prosecutors—confirmed the information was already circulating internally and that González Amador had pre-emptively acknowledged his culpability in private communications, such as WhatsApp messages. Public prosecutors, in a rare alignment with the defense, sought acquittal, contending the actions fell within the bounds of prosecutorial discretion rather than criminal intent.
However, the majority opinion rejected these claims, citing circumstantial evidence such as the rapid timing of the leak following the initial media report—traced back to Ayuso's inner circle—and the inclusion of non-public details in the Attorney General's Office's statement that could only have originated from the confidential email. The court described the disclosure as an "abuse of power" that compromised the integrity of ongoing judicial proceedings and eroded public trust in the prosecutorial system. Dissenting justices argued the evidence was insufficient to prove intent beyond reasonable doubt, warning that the ruling could chill legitimate media communications by legal officials.
The political fallout has been swift and severe. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo labeled the conviction "unprecedented" during a press conference in Galicia, declaring it would "always hang over Sánchez" as evidence of a "politically motivated operation" to weaponize state institutions against opposition figures. He demanded an immediate apology from the prime minister, his resignation, and the calling of snap elections. Ayuso herself decried the episode as a "dirty war" by the executive branch, vowing to pursue further legal avenues while her partner's tax case—still open and slated for trial in 2026—continues to loom over her administration's fiscal transparency pledges.
Sánchez's government issued a measured response late Thursday. A Moncloa Palace spokesperson stated that the administration "respects the judicial ruling but does not share its conclusions," announcing the immediate initiation of procedures to appoint an interim attorney general under the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecutor's Office. Sánchez reiterated his defense of García Ortiz as a "victim of coordinated distraction tactics" by the Madrid regional government, aimed at shielding Ayuso from scrutiny. The prime minister dismissed broader calls for his resignation as a "smear campaign orchestrated by the right," drawing parallels to unsubstantiated probes against his wife Begoña Gómez and brother David Sánchez.
This conviction exacerbates a cascade of legal challenges facing the PSOE administration. Since 2023, investigations have ensnared former Transport Minister José Luis Ábalos in a graft scandal tied to COVID mask contracts, prompting his expulsion from the party. The PP has leveraged these developments to erode Sánchez's slim majority, stalling key legislation on pension reforms and green energy transitions. Polling shows the PSOE trailing the PP nationally, with Ayuso's approval rating in Madrid holding steady despite the personal scandal.
Beyond immediate politics, the case underscores deeper fissures in Spain's separation of powers. Critics argue it exemplifies "politicization of justice," where leaks serve as tools in ideological battles rather than accountability mechanisms. As García Ortiz's appeal window opens, the nation braces for prolonged scrutiny. For Sánchez, navigating this minefield will test his coalition's cohesion, while for Ayuso, it fortifies her narrative as a resilient anti-establishment figure. In a polarized Spain, where trust in institutions remains low, this saga risks further entrenching divisions, with elections potentially as early as spring 2026 hanging in the balance.
