In brief
Spain's Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been convicted for unlawfully disclosing confidential information regarding the tax affairs of businessman Alberto González Amador. The Supreme Court imposed a two-year ban on García Ortiz and pronounced a fine, which may further intensify the tension between Spain's leftist government and right-wing opposition as they react to the ruling amidst the ongoing political crisis.
Spain's Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, has been forced to step down after being found guilty of revealing confidential information in a deeply controversial case, which accentuated the country's political division.
The Supreme Court found that García Ortiz had unlawfully revealed details of the tax status of businessman Alberto González Amador, boyfriend of a senior conservative politician.
The court handed him a two-year ban from the post and a fine of €7,200 (£6,438). He must also pay €10,000 to Mr. González Amador as compensation.
The trial of García Ortiz fueled already acrimonious relations between the left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and right-wing opposition.
The complex case dates back to March 2024, when the attorney general's office issued a press release stating that Mr. González Amador had requested a plea bargain after being found to have evaded tax payments worth €350,951.
Various politicians have reacted differently to the conviction, highlighting the political tensions existing in Spain.
Health Minister Mónica García described the conviction as a damaging blow to the presumption of innocence in Spain, while conservative leaders called for immediate political changes following the ruling.
This case comes amidst ongoing judicial scrutiny faced by Prime Minister Sánchez, further complicating the already volatile political landscape in Spain.
