Spain's Supreme Court Convicts Chief Prosecutor in Leak Case

Spain’s Supreme Court has found Chief Prosecutor Álvaro García Ortiz guilty of leaking confidential information tied to a tax fraud investigation, issuing a two-year disqualification from public office and ordering fines totalling €7,200 along with €10,000 in compensation.

The ruling states that García Ortiz wrongfully released details from an email exchange between prosecutors and the lawyer representing Alberto González Amador, partner of Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The email discussed the possibility of a plea agreement. García Ortiz denied intentionally releasing any confidential material.

Five of the seven judges supported the conviction, marking a rare and significant rebuke of Spain’s top prosecutorial authority. The judgment immediately places pressure on the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who appointed García Ortiz in 2022.

• Spain’s Supreme Court convicts Chief Prosecutor Álvaro García Ortiz for leaking confidential case details
• Verdict intensifies political pressure on the Sánchez government as a new prosecutor must be appointed
• Ruling deepens Spain’s judicial–political tensions amid ongoing debates over institutional reform

Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said the government accepts the ruling and will begin the process of selecting a new chief prosecutor. He urged the public to maintain trust in state institutions while emphasising that the transition will move quickly.

Opposition leaders from the conservative Partido Popular demanded Sánchez apologise and call early elections, arguing the decision reflects broader institutional mismanagement. Government officials dismissed the call, saying the appointment issue will be handled within existing procedures.

The verdict also expands an already tense political climate in Madrid, where disputes over judicial independence and prosecutorial conduct have sharpened in recent months. Analysts say the ruling may influence upcoming debates over judicial reform and the balance of power between Spain’s courts and executive branch.

García Ortiz is expected to appeal, which could send the case to Spain’s Constitutional Court. Until then, the prosecutor’s office will operate under interim leadership as the government moves to identify a successor.

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The case is one of the most consequential disciplinary actions ever taken against a sitting chief prosecutor in Spain, signalling heightened scrutiny of official communications and conduct at the highest levels of public service.