The entry of the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard into the federal headquarters of the PSOE on Ferraz street has opened a new political crisis for the socialists, but the origin of the judicial action is not in the case affecting former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero nor, at least with the information available so far, in a generic investigation into irregular financing of the party.
According to information released by Cadena SER, the action originates from Central Investigating Court number 5 of the National High Court and is part of an expansion of the investigation linked to the Leire Díez case, a former socialist militant who was already involved in a judicial case for various actions under analysis.
What the National High Court is investigating
The focus of this new action would be on a derivative of that investigation. According to SER, investigators have detected indications of an alleged operation promoted from Leire Díez's circle to act against judges and prosecutors, as well as to try to influence or mediate in judicial proceedings that are particularly sensitive for the PSOE.
Among these proceedings would be cases affecting the circle of the President of the Government, such as the investigation into his wife, Begoña Gómez, or the one affecting his brother, David Sánchez, always according to the information released by the station.
What the UCO is looking for in Ferraz
The action would not be a indiscriminate macro-search, but rather a search for specific documentation that could help clarify whether or not there was any type of coordination, support, or financing of these actions.
One of the points under analysis would be, according to the same information, whether these alleged maneuvers could have had financial support or coverage from structures linked to the PSOE.
Not just Ferraz
The action would not be limited to the socialist headquarters. According to initial information, requests for documentation or similar proceedings would also have been activated in other locations linked to the investigation. This reinforces the idea that it is not an isolated action, but a coordinated expansion of the case opened in the National High Court.
The temporal coincidence with other investigations affecting the PSOE may cause confusion, but both cases are distinct. The Zapatero case revolves around the investigation into the alleged influence network linked to the Plus Ultra rescue.
The performance in Ferraz responds, according to the available information, to another different judicial line focused on the Leire Díez case. The investigation is ongoing and more official details are expected to be released in the coming hours.