Spain's Interior Minister Marlaska Defends Guardia Civil Chief Amid Leire Díez Probe

Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska repeatedly defended the director of the Guardia Civil, Mercedes González, stating that she acted with probity and that no irregularities have been found in the force’s work. He said any contact she had with former PSOE activist Leire Díez took place outside the Ministry of the Interior and did not involve pressure on the Central Operations Unit (UCO). Marlaska denied that the Ministry ordered any “profile‑changing” actions in investigations linked to the president’s family and asserted that he informed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the matter.

During Senate hearings the minister was questioned about alleged meetings between González and Díez, about possible influence on the UCO, and about the request to rehabilitate detained commander Rubén Villalba. He maintained that the director’s statements were consistent, that no criminal conduct occurred, and that any pleas for assistance were rejected. The sessions highlighted ongoing parliamentary scrutiny of the wider “cloacas” corruption investigation.