Spain's Civil Guard UCO unit points to Sánchez as Leire Díez's 'the one'
The UCO concludes that Leire Díez's 'one' is Pedro Sánchez based on party hierarchy. As a protected officeholder, the prime minister can only be prosecuted if Congress approves the request.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The UCO concludes that the 'one' referred to by Leire Díez can only be Pedro Sánchez
A new development in the investigation into the case rocking Spain's government leadership: the Unidad Central Operativa (UCO), the Central Operative Unit of Spain's Civil Guard, has concluded that the term 'one' used by Leire Díez in her communications can only refer to the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. The deduction is based on internal hierarchy and on the ability to give orders to Santos Cerdán, who was then the Socialist Party's (PSOE) Organisation Secretary.
According to the case file, Díez wrote: "Yesterday the 'one' told S to tell me that I'm doing an enormous job and not to lose heart." For investigators, the logic suggests that this 'S' is Santos Cerdán, and the only person with the authority to order Cerdán to do something within the party structure is the secretary general, Pedro Sánchez. The UCO considers that, purely by hierarchy, only Sánchez could have given Cerdán instructions.
The shield of legal immunity and the defence strategy
The procedural situation of those involved is, to say the least, asymmetric. Leire Díez was arrested at the time and is now on bail, facing new charges. Pedro Sánchez, by contrast, enjoys legal immunity as prime minister, which means only the Congress of Deputies can authorise his prosecution through the so-called suplicatorio procedure.
Some analysts point out that Sánchez's defence could be deliberately forcing the request for the suplicatorio, betting that Congress will reject it –given the investiture majority– and thereby dismiss the case for good. If rejected, the prime minister could not be tried again for the same facts. It is a risky gambit that would turn political shielding into de facto judicial protection.
The debate about the system: who can put a prime minister on trial?
The impossibility of a judge investigating Sánchez directly without Congress's permission has peine the discussion about Spain's system of legal immunity for high office. "The system can only remove a prime minister if the rest of the politicians agree to it. Not even a judge has the power to do so," critics summarise. The situation creates a divide between those who see it as a necessary brake on the judicialisation of politics and those who see a guarantee of impunity for those in power.
Meanwhile, there are no public moves from the PSOE to change course, even though analyses suggest the wear and tear could lead the party to a situation similar to that of the Italian, French or Greek socialists: a free fall that some are already predicting if no action is taken in time. The UCO, for its part, keeps accumulating evidence, while this year's literary Premio Planeta award could, tongue in cheek, go to the police report.
This article is based on information contained in the case file; no firm judicial ruling exists yet. All charges are presumed and refer to facts under investigation.
Related discussions in the forum
A new development in the investigation into the case rocking Spain's government leadership: the Unidad Central Operativa (UCO), the Central Operative Unit of Spain's Civil Guard, has concluded that the term 'one' used by Leire Díez in her communications can only refer to the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. The deduction is based on internal hierarchy and on the ability to give orders to Santos Cerdán, who was then the Socialist Party's (PSOE) Organisation Secretary.
According to the case file, Díez wrote: "Yesterday the 'one' told S to tell me that I'm doing an enormous job and not to lose heart." For investigators, the logic suggests that this 'S' is Santos Cerdán, and the only person with the authority to order Cerdán to do something within the party structure is the secretary general, Pedro Sánchez. The UCO considers that, purely by hierarchy, only Sánchez could have given Cerdán instructions.
The shield of legal immunity and the defence strategy
The procedural situation of those involved is, to say the least, asymmetric. Leire Díez was arrested at the time and is now on bail, facing new charges. Pedro Sánchez, by contrast, enjoys legal immunity as prime minister, which means only the Congress of Deputies can authorise his prosecution through the so-called suplicatorio procedure.
Some analysts point out that Sánchez's defence could be deliberately forcing the request for the suplicatorio, betting that Congress will reject it –given the investiture majority– and thereby dismiss the case for good. If rejected, the prime minister could not be tried again for the same facts. It is a risky gambit that would turn political shielding into de facto judicial protection.
The debate about the system: who can put a prime minister on trial?
The impossibility of a judge investigating Sánchez directly without Congress's permission has peine the discussion about Spain's system of legal immunity for high office. "The system can only remove a prime minister if the rest of the politicians agree to it. Not even a judge has the power to do so," critics summarise. The situation creates a divide between those who see it as a necessary brake on the judicialisation of politics and those who see a guarantee of impunity for those in power.
Meanwhile, there are no public moves from the PSOE to change course, even though analyses suggest the wear and tear could lead the party to a situation similar to that of the Italian, French or Greek socialists: a free fall that some are already predicting if no action is taken in time. The UCO, for its part, keeps accumulating evidence, while this year's literary Premio Planeta award could, tongue in cheek, go to the police report.
This article is based on information contained in the case file; no firm judicial ruling exists yet. All charges are presumed and refer to facts under investigation.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (13 replies).
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