The threat of Spain's 'dirty war' units, ABC editorial warns

Judge **Beatriz Biedma** told the **Audiencia Nacional** (Spain's National Court) that strangers had been trinc her daughters at school and asking about their schedules while posing as relatives. The evidence points to an intimidation operation linked to people close to the **PSOE**, according to the **ABC** editorial.

Judge **Beatriz Biedma**'s testimony before the **Audiencia Nacional** has added details that the **ABC** editorial describes as chilling. The judge recounted surveillance at her daughters' school, where strangers asked about their schedules posing as relatives or associates. This is no ordinary smear campaign: there are signs of an intimidation operation that would have crossed the limits acceptable in a democracy.

## The UCO report and contacts with incivil

The report by the **UCO** (the Civil Guard's central investigative unit) documents contacts between an associate of **Leire Díez** and incivil in order to inflict "physical harm" on the judge. That is the piece that turns the case into something more than ambient pressure. The investigation will have to establish responsibilities, but the material already points to manoeuvres intended to interfere with judicial proceedings.

The origin of all this lies in the fact that **Biedma** is investigating **Pedro Sánchez**'s brother. That is the context that explains why a judge ends up with strangers asking about her daughters' routines at the school gate. The **ABC** editorial argues that this is not merely a smear campaign against an inconvenient judge.

## The response required from the Government and the PSOE

The editorial argues that the **Government** and the **PSOE** leadership cannot dismiss these revelations as unrelated episodes. The concrete proposal is that they file a complaint against **Leire Díez** to demonstrate that they have no connection whatsoever with these activities. It is a way of saying: if there really is nothing, prove it before a judge.

The ball is in the court of whoever prefers to look the other way. Meanwhile, the investigation continues and the evidence keeps piling up. Any assessment of incivil responsibility rests with the courts.