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EPA

Spain's top prosecutor, the country's chief legal officer, has been forced to step down after being found guilty of revealing classified details in a deeply controversial case that has accentuated political rifts within the country.

Court Ruling and Penalties

The highest court determined that García Ortiz had illegally disclosed information about the tax situation of businessman Alberto González Amador, who is the partner of a senior conservative politician.

The judicial body handed down a two-year ban from his position and a fine of €7,200. Furthermore, he must pay ten thousand euros to Mr González Amador as compensation.

Political Fallout

The trial of the attorney general fueled the previously strained relations between the left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the right-wing opposition.

Contrasting positions were highlighted by reactions to the conviction.

"The prime minister must apologise to Spaniards, resign and schedule new elections, in that order," said a spokesperson for the conservative People's Party.

The administration stated it disagreed with the ruling but respected it and would move forward with the appointment of a replacement prosecutor.

Judicial Dispute

However, numerous progressive lawmakers expressed outrage at what they viewed as a decision influenced by politics.

Health Minister Mónica García, of the Sumar party, stated the guilty verdict dealt a "lethal blow to the principle of innocent until proven guilty" and compromised citizens' rights when it came to the rule of law.

Case Background

The complex case dates back to spring of 2024, when the attorney general's office issued a press release indicating that the businessman had sought a negotiated settlement after being discovered avoiding tax payments worth over 350,000 euros.

The statement rectified inaccurate media coverage stating that the attorney general's office had proposed the bargain.

The source of the false information was the head of communications of the regional leader of the capital region.

Court Case Details

The businessman filed a complaint against the chief prosecutor, claiming his confidentiality was violated. The case against García Ortiz also included allegations of leaking information about the matter to the media.

Legal authorities highlighted the attorney general's decision to replace his mobile device as suspicious.

Yet, there was no conclusive proof linking the attorney general to the leak and several journalists stated under oath during the trial that he had not been the source of their information.

Concerning the official communication, the prosecutor stated he was simply correcting the inaccurate information.

The attorney general can challenge the ruling.

Wider Political Implications

This comes as a significant setback for the prime minister, who has been facing legal scrutiny on various fronts.

• His brother is due to go on trial for influence peddling
• The prime minister's spouse is under investigation for her business activities
• Two former senior figures in the governing political organization are facing charges of overseeing a massive kickback scheme