Central Operative Unit Visits PSOE Headquarters Amid Financing Investigation

The Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard made another visit to the national headquarters of the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) on Ferraz street this past Wednesday. This visit was prompted by an information request from Judge Santiago Pedraz, focusing on the ongoing investigation surrounding the party's financing and its connection to the case involving Leire Díez, who has recently been arrested, along with Vicente Fernández, the former president of SEPI (State Society of Industrial Participations). Transport Minister Óscar Puente was among the first government officials to address the situation during a control session of the Executive. This meeting was particularly notable due to the absence of the President, who was attending an audience with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Puente took the opportunity to criticize how some media outlets have reported on this inquiry, suggesting that certain journalists seemed to be prepared with the information beforehand, which he found troubling. Moreover, Puente expressed his concerns regarding the portrayal of the information request as akin to a search and seizure, emphasizing that it was merely a request and not a registration of any sort. He questioned the necessity of dispatching the UCO for what he believed was an administrative inquiry, prompting the question, "Is it necessary to send the UCO just to request information?" He described the situation as astounding, raising eyebrows about the appropriateness of this level of police involvement. This isn't the first instance of the UCO visiting political party headquarters for such reasons; they previously appeared at the Génova 13 office in similar inquiries related to the Púnica operation, where they sought documentation in connection with allegations of corruption. The UCO's presence at the PSOE headquarters signifies the gravity of the legal matters at hand and indicates that the investigation into the party's financing remains a critical issue for the parties involved. As more details emerge, the implications of these inquiries on both the PSOE and broader Spanish political landscape are sure to be significant. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2