Spain's CNI internal unrest as government seeks influence over agency

CNI Spain espionage PSOE Pegasus

Reports reveal growing tension within Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI) after information surfaced that the Sánchez government attempted to align the agency with the ruling PSOE. Agents described a "tremendous internal shock" among the 3,700 staff members.

CNI operatives also told the press that President Pedro Sánchez is viewed by Morocco as "irrelevant" following Madrid's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a stance they say reflects a broader diplomatic imbalance.

In parallel, the Spanish executive has restricted judges from accessing key details of the CNI's espionage program targeting Catalan and Basque independentists, notably limiting data on the Pegasus surveillance system. The move hampers ongoing investigations into alleged state surveillance.

Separately, National Court judge Santiago Pedraz ordered a forensic review of 82 bank accounts – six of them belonging to the PSOE – to trace possible payments linked to the so‑called "cloaca" scheme that sought to interfere with judicial proceedings against the government.

Entities: Carlos Leonardo · Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI) · CrowdStrike · FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) · National Cybersecurity Center (CNCS) · Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) · Pedro Sánchez · Pegasus surveillance system · Santiago Pedraz · Zepo Intelligence

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Judge Santiago Pedraz ordered investigation of 82 bank accounts, including six belonging to the PSOE, to trace alleged payments linked to the “cloaca” scheme. (8645bf97-db2a-41d2-a0ff-ae77676ca793)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Spanish government limited judges' access to key details of the CNI's Pegasus espionage program targeting independentists. (86f4d128-c7cc-474c-ac39-9cf4a6739700)
[○ 1 SOURCE] CNI agents said President Pedro Sánchez is considered ‘irrelevant’ by Morocco after Spain recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. (88bed23b-e354-45ea-9155-a0018702c6fb)
[○ 1 SOURCE] CNI staff experienced internal tension after a report that the Sánchez government tried to place the agency under PSOE control. (ba0884b5-0da2-44da-bbcf-0ca7024f38dd)