MADRID, Spain — Agents from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of Spain’s Civil Guard accessed the national headquarters of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) on Calle Ferraz in Madrid on Wednesday morning as part of a judicial investigation overseen by the National Court, according to sources familiar with the proceedings.
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The documentation request was ordered by National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz in connection with a separate procedural track within the investigation known as “caso Leire,” which involves Leire Díez, described in judicial documents as a presumed operative linked to the PSOE, and former president of the State Society for Industrial Participations (SEPI) Vicente Fernández. The action at PSOE headquarters follows recent developments in the Plus Ultra case, in which Judge José Luis Calama summoned former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero as a suspect on charges including influence peddling and money laundering.
This marks the second occasion in recent months that UCO agents have accessed the PSOE federal headquarters in connection with judicial inquiries; a previous visit occurred in June 2025 following the implication of Santos Cerdán, then the party’s Organization Secretary. In the current proceedings, Judge Pedraz has also ordered searches of the residences of former Organization Secretary Santos Cerdán, businessman Javier Pérez Dolset, and the office of Gaspar Zarrías, former vice president of the Andalusian regional government.
Judge Pedraz has formally implicated Cerdán, Zarrías, and PSOE manager Ana María Fuentes in connection with an alleged operation aimed at “destabilizing judicial proceedings” against the Socialist Party. Regarding Ms. Fuentes, the magistrate considers that the investigated facts indicate her potential responsibility, at minimum as an accomplice, in the commission of alleged offenses, and potentially as a principal in the possible crime of commercial document forgery through the issuance of false invoices.
The judicial procedure overseen by Judge Pedraz involves multiple suspects including Cerdán, Leire Díez Castro, Javier Pérez Dolset, Zarrías, and attorney Ismael Oliver, with charges spanning criminal organization, multiple counts of bribery, revelation of secrets, inducing false testimony, false accusation, commercial document forgery, prevarication, influence peddling, and crimes against state institutions.
In testimony provided during the investigation, Gaspar Zarrías stated that he contracted Leire Díez to investigate alleged involvement by retired commissioner José Manuel Villarejo in the ERE corruption case, for which Zarrías was previously tried. He indicated that he paid the former socialist militant 4,000 euros monthly over a four-month period.
On May 8, Judge Pedraz extended judicial secrecy provisions for an additional month in the investigation involving former socialist militant Leire Díez regarding alleged irregularities in contracts involving public companies and entities dependent on SEPI. Judge Pedraz assumed oversight of the inquiry in December 2025 following the detention of Díez, former SEPI president Vicente Fernández, and businessman Antxon Alonso, administrator of Servinabar and linked to former PSOE Organization Secretary Santos Cerdán.
The magistrate has also identified indications that former Correos president Juan Manuel Serrano Quintana and socialist deputy Juan Francisco Serrano Martínez may have collaborated with those under investigation, though he indicated that further development of the inquiry is required to determine potential criminal responsibility.
As part of the operation, UCO agents also visited Civil Guard headquarters in Madrid to gather information and testimony. Officials traveled to the armed institute’s headquarters on Calle Guzmán el Bueno to collect statements and documentation. Judicial documents reportedly indicate that a Civil Guard officer, Juan Sánchez Yepes, may also be implicated on charges including revelation of secrets, bribery, and crimes against state institutions.
Investigators suspect that Díez, Fernández, and Alonso may have received approximately 700,000 euros in commissions through operations involving public companies and SEPI-dependent entities across five transactions under examination. According to a ruling by magistrate Antonio Piña, the three individuals allegedly formed part of a group called “Hirurok” aimed at influencing “various proceedings within public administration, for their own benefit or that of third parties, taking advantage of their position, relationships, and capacity to influence certain individuals linked to public service.”
Between 2021 and 2023, Díez, Fernández, and Alonso allegedly acted in a coordinated manner with the objective “of obtaining maximum economic benefit through the collection of commissions” via “fraudulent contracting and invoicing,” according to investigative findings. Collectively, they are alleged to have secured decisions favorable to their interests from various administrative bodies “and through different public officials, involving public companies” and SEPI-linked entities in five operations currently under investigation.
🚨 BREAKING: Spain’s anticorruption police has raided the headquarters of PM Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist Party in Madrid.
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Political reactions to the developments have been swift. From Rome, following a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his “full cooperation with the Justice system” as the searches proceeded. Sánchez emphasized that the action constituted a request for information rather than a search, stating, “I do not wish to minimize the seriousness of the investigation, and therefore, what I can convey is full cooperation with Justice. If we are speaking of the Leire Díez case, decisions were already taken at the time, over a year ago; let us respect the Justice system.”
Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated upon learning of the news that “there is no choice but to give Spaniards a voice immediately.” Upon arriving at Congress, he insisted he would do everything possible to change the current government and called on coalition partners to cease supporting an executive he characterized as compromised.
Within PSOE ranks, spokesperson Montse Mínguez conveyed a message of “calm” and cooperation in response to the developments. “The Socialist Party is different, and we have demonstrated this on many occasions,” Mínguez stated in reference to the Popular Party. “There is no destruction of evidence here. Therefore, all information that is requested will be provided,” she clarified in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio.
Nevertheless, the socialist leader lamented what she described as a coordinated “campaign of discredit and political and media lynching” against socialists by right-wing forces aimed, in her view, at amplifying headlines into major news stories.
Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Óscar Puente questioned the manner in which the information request was executed, stating on social media, “To request information, is it necessary to send the UCO? It is astonishing.”
Podemos leader Ione Belarra accused the government of disappointing progressive citizens upon learning that former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero “may have had his hand in the till” and that the UCO had entered PSOE headquarters, in this instance to request information regarding alleged payments to Leire Díez.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal demanded the arrest and prosecution of what he termed the “Sánchez and Zapatero mafia,” criticizing those who defend or justify both the current and former prime ministers, the latter of whom is under investigation in the Plus Ultra case.
Under Spanish criminal procedure, all individuals mentioned in connection with potential criminal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. The National Court will evaluate all evidence presented by investigators before determining whether to advance formal charges or modify the procedural status of those under review.
As judicial proceedings continue, authorities have indicated that further details will be released through official channels in accordance with applicable legal protocols, judicial secrecy provisions, and privacy considerations. Further updates regarding investigative developments, judicial determinations, or related policy considerations are expected as the Civil Guard and relevant agencies provide additional information through verified sources.
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Note: This report is based on official statements from judicial sources, political parties, and verified media accounts including Europa Press. Legal proceedings remain subject to Spanish judicial protocols and the presumption of innocence. All individuals and entities mentioned in connection with potential legal activity are presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings. Details regarding the ongoing investigation remain subject to judicial secrecy and privacy protections.
Reporting from Madrid. Additional contributions from judicial affairs correspondents and political analysts.
