Madrid, Dec. 9 — The content of the Supreme Court (TS) ruling regarding the Attorney General of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz, rekindled public debate, with reactions ranging from restraint to vehemence depending on political affiliation.
According to five of the seven TS magistrates, the dismissed prosecutor "cannot respond to false news by committing a crime," emphasizing in the case the violation of privacy against Alberto González Amador, boyfriend of the president of the Madrid region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso.
It adds that this applied both to the leak of a key email and to the publication of the press release.
However, the judges Susana Polo and Ana Ferrer, the other two members of the TS, stated in their dissenting opinion that they see no evidence to convict García Ortiz of revealing data about Díaz Ayuso's partner, suggesting that "a false accusation of illegal action by the Prosecutor's Office was disproven."
The two magistrates argued that it has not been proven that he, directly or through a third party, leaked the email to the press, and proposed acquitting García Ortiz of the crime of revealing secrets.
In short, the text of the approximately 180-page ruling was made public this Tuesday, nearly three weeks after the court announced the verdict, which consisted of two years of disqualification from office and a fine of 7,200 euros, as well as compensation of 10,000 euros to González Amador for moral damages.
The name Teresa Peramato has already been promoted as the government's proposal for the new Attorney General and has passed the scrutiny of the Congress of Deputies as well as the General Council of the Judiciary. The official appointment now awaits King Felipe VI.
The issue attracted significant media and public attention, as it is the first time in Spain's history that an Attorney General has been brought to trial.
The matter further highlighted the divisions between the left in power and the center-right opposition Popular Party (PP), as well as the far-right Vox party.
Although there is no level above the Supreme Court, some actions by progressive lawyers' associations and other entities are seeking ways to discredit the case file, potentially appealing to European Union authorities.
In statements to the press, Defense Minister Margarita Robles today reiterated her "total and absolute confidence" in the TS after the content of the ruling against García Ortiz became known.
She noted that the sentence was the result of five votes against two, and made a slight criticism by suggesting the conviction should have been published earlier.
