Madrid, 27 May 2026
Spanish Civil Guard officers attended the national headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party, PSOE, in Madrid on Wednesday as part of a High Court investigation into an alleged network accused of trying to interfere with judicial proceedings affecting the party and the government.
The officers from the Guardia Civil’s Central Operational Unit, known as the UCO, went to the party’s headquarters on Calle Ferraz to obtain specific documents and electronic files requested by investigating judge Santiago Pedraz.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the move was not a police raid but a formal judicial request for information, adding that the PSOE was cooperating fully with the courts. The distinction is significant: a judicial request targets specific material and is made with prior notice, whereas an entry and search operation allows officers to gather broader evidence without advance warning.
The investigation is looking into alleged offences including criminal organisation, bribery, disclosure of secrets, inducement to give false testimony, false accusation, falsification of commercial documents, misconduct in public office, influence peddling and offences against state institutions.
According to Spanish media reports, the case now includes former PSOE organisation secretary Santos Cerdán, PSOE manager Ana Fuentes, former Andalusian Socialist official Gaspar Zarrías, former Socialist militant Leire Díez and businessman Javier Pérez Dolset, among others. All remain under investigation and no convictions have been issued in this case.
The court inquiry reportedly centres on whether payments or other actions were used to try to influence or undermine legal proceedings involving the PSOE or the Spanish government. Officers also sought information from the Civil Guard’s own headquarters in connection with a separate internal matter involving possible leaks linked to the case.
Speaking in Rome after a meeting with Pope Leo, Sánchez said the party respected the judiciary and would respond firmly if any further irregularities were confirmed. He also rejected suggestions that the latest developments should trigger an early general election.
The episode adds to mounting legal pressure around Spain’s governing Socialists. In a separate case, former Socialist prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is under investigation by the High Court over alleged influence peddling and money laundering linked to the €53 million state rescue of airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic. Zapatero denies wrongdoing and is due to testify on 2 June.
The PSOE, led by Sánchez, governs Spain in a minority left-wing coalition and relies on parliamentary support from smaller parties. Opposition parties have seized on the latest court proceedings to increase pressure on the government, while the Socialists insist they are cooperating with investigators and that the judicial process must run its course.
