Explosive Audio Revelations Link Former PP Leaders to Political Maneuvering Against Catalan Independence
On Wednesday, a new audio recording from Laura Díez's USB drive emerged, once again implicating the former commissioner José Manuel Villarejo alongside notable figures from the Popular Party (PP), including Alicia Sánchez-Camacho, the former head of the Catalan PP. This disclosure comes from a report by El País, which details a conversation between Villarejo and Sánchez-Camacho regarding alleged strategies aimed at undermining the now-defunct Catalan party, CiU, which has partially reformed into Junts, as well as curtailing initiatives tied to the independence movement.
The discussion, recorded by Villarejo himself on November 6, 2012, in Barcelona, unveils a conspiracy that appears to align with claims surrounding Operation Catalonia—a controversial matter still under judicial review that includes former Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz. The conversation took place just 19 days prior to regional elections that saw Artur Mas's party lose 12 seats, a significant setback attributed to social cuts and subsequent political alliances with the left-wing independence party ERC.
During the conversation, Villarejo and Sánchez-Camacho candidly converse about their strategies, emphasizing the need to keep certain information confidential while discussing the perceived threat posed by Artur Mas’s government.
Villarejo remarked on the apparent quietness of Mas's administration despite possessing polling data that suggested they could achieve an absolute majority. 'They have a poll in which they gain an absolute majority but they are quiet as church mice,' he stated, indicating a secretive strategic approach. He conveyed a level of trust in Sánchez-Camacho, indicating that María Dolores de Cospedal held her in high regard. 'The fact that I am here is that María Dolores de Cospedal trusts you completely,' he said.
Further dark undertones were introduced when Villarejo spoke about collecting intelligence and observing certain movements. He mentioned the government's use of surveillance equipment, stating, 'Ive been working here in Barcelona going back and forth,' and urged Sánchez-Camacho to report any sightings of suspicious vans equipped for intelligence operations. This spoke to a broader plot where they believed they had 'people inside' working on their behalf to undermine the Catalan independence movement.
The recordings also hint at a malicious intent behind their plans: focusing media attention on certain Catalan leaders while diverting scrutiny away from their party. Villarejo suggested that the strategy involved diligent media manipulation, stating, 'The design we have made is that we are carrying out almost all these actions with the media but outside of institutional matters to avoid burning the party.'
Sánchez-Camacho’s remarks solidified a sense of urgency as she reiterated the importance of not allowing the opposing party to secure an absolute majority: 'If they gain an absolute majority Spain is screwed,' she cautioned.
Among the most alarming disclosures is a separate taped conversation from 2017 where the former Minister of Defense, Cospedal, urged Villarejo to take action against anticorruption prosecutor José Grinda. This comment raises serious questions about the lengths to which these political figures were willing to go in their bid to maintain power and stifle opposition.
As this series of audio revelations continues to unfold, the implications could be profound, not only for those directly named but also for the broader political landscape in Spain. This sordid saga highlights the intersection of politics and ethical boundaries, prompting intense scrutiny of both past and present governmental actions in the face of political rivalry.
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