Moncloa frames judicial probes as political persecution of its allies

Moncloa has adopted a narrative that any legal scrutiny of the government’s inner circle is a deliberate strategy by the opposition and judicial actors to topple the administration. The list of individuals highlighted includes David Sánchez, the president’s brother, and former top prosecutor Álvaro García Ortiz, both previously convicted. Former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is also mentioned after a judge ordered him to explain the source of jewelry found in his office.

The most prominent case now involves Begoña Gómez, who will be tried before a popular jury on charges of influence-peddling and embezzlement following a judge’s decision to open a oral trial. The government has openly criticized the decision, calling it an arbitrary and persecutory move, and warns that any conviction will be framed as evidence of a broader campaign against the ruling party.