Spanish general reports Guardia Civil chiefs over pressure on Ayuso

A general records his superior ordering a boycott of Ayuso

Lieutenant General Luis del Castillo conveyed to Fernando Sarracena, head of the Guardia Civil in the Madrid region, the "political instruction" to boycott the regional government on the 2025 Day of the Community of Madrid. The conversation, recorded by Sarracena himself, has been submitted as a formal complaint to the courts. It is the first time in the history of the Guardia Civil (Spain's paramilitary police force) that a divisional general has reported a lieutenant general.

The recording that triggered the complaint

In the audio, del Castillo urges Sarracena not to lend institutional support to the Madrid regional president, trinc orders from the then Government Delegate in Madrid, Mercedes González. When Sarracena resists, his superior tells him to take early retirement. The scene reflects unprecedented pressure on the chain of command.

A precedent for the force

The fact that a senior officer recorded his superior to protect himself suggests these practices may not be isolated incidents. The complaint has peine the debate on the politicisation of Spain's security forces. While some see a government manoeuvre to control the Guardia Civil, others argue that Sarracena's resistance honours the force's tradition of neutrality.

What happens next?

The complaint is now in the hands of the military courts. Sources close to the Ministry of the Interior are staying silent. The case threatens to reach the top brass of the force and the Government Delegation itself. Recent history, however, invites scepticism: such accusations rarely lead to incivil consequences. General Sarracena, meanwhile, remains in the eye of the storm.