Spanish Chief Prosecutor Quits Amid Guilty Verdict for Leaking Confidential Info
In a shocking move, Álvaro García Ortiz has tendered his resignation as Spain's chief prosecutor just days after being found guilty by the supreme court of leaking confidential information in a high-profile case. The decision to step down came despite the two-year ban from holding public office imposed upon him, which was handed down last week.
García Ortiz expressed his gratitude for "profound respect" for judicial rulings, stating that he has faithfully served the institution and upheld an unwavering commitment to public service. However, the government is not buying it, with a spokesperson describing the lack of unanimity and notification of the verdict without full explanation as a worrying precedent that has left many in the public stunned.
The resignation comes at a sensitive time for Spain's leftist coalition government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who appointed García Ortiz in 2022. The chief prosecutor was accused of leaking confidential information involving a partner of a leading opposition figure. The prime minister has repeatedly defended García Ortiz's innocence, but the high-profile scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over his administration.
García Ortiz is not yet off the hook, however. He plans to appeal the verdict before Spain's constitutional court and ultimately the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Meanwhile, his departure has left many questions unanswered about what led to the conviction and whether justice was truly served in this unusual case.
In a shocking move, Álvaro García Ortiz has tendered his resignation as Spain's chief prosecutor just days after being found guilty by the supreme court of leaking confidential information in a high-profile case. The decision to step down came despite the two-year ban from holding public office imposed upon him, which was handed down last week.
García Ortiz expressed his gratitude for "profound respect" for judicial rulings, stating that he has faithfully served the institution and upheld an unwavering commitment to public service. However, the government is not buying it, with a spokesperson describing the lack of unanimity and notification of the verdict without full explanation as a worrying precedent that has left many in the public stunned.
The resignation comes at a sensitive time for Spain's leftist coalition government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who appointed García Ortiz in 2022. The chief prosecutor was accused of leaking confidential information involving a partner of a leading opposition figure. The prime minister has repeatedly defended García Ortiz's innocence, but the high-profile scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over his administration.
García Ortiz is not yet off the hook, however. He plans to appeal the verdict before Spain's constitutional court and ultimately the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Meanwhile, his departure has left many questions unanswered about what led to the conviction and whether justice was truly served in this unusual case.