Spain's Guardia Civil chief Mercedes González under prevarication probe amid PSOE scandals

The director general of the Guardia Civil, Mercedes González, and the deputy operational director, General Manuel Llamas, have been summoned by judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional on suspicion of prevarication and obstruction of justice. The investigation, dubbed the “cafelitos” case, stems from alleged informal meetings – once referred to as “unos cafés” – that may have been used to exert pressure on investigators linked to high‑profile inquiries involving the PSOE, including the brother of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The government, however, has refused to remove González or Llamas, describing the situation as a “political war” within the Guardia Civil and emphasizing continued confidence in the officials while the legal process proceeds. In the midst of the scandal, Prime Minister Sánchez posted a video urging citizens to use protective glasses for the upcoming solar eclipse, a move that critics say distracts from the mounting legal pressures on his party’s senior figures.

The case also touches on other investigations, such as the alleged influence‑peddling network within the state‑owned SEPI and the broader “cloacas del PSOE” probe, highlighting the administration’s reluctance to reshuffle personnel despite several indictments.