Spain probes alleged PP-linked scheme to grant citizenship to Venezuelan ex-minister
Spanish investigators are examining whether officials helped former Venezuelan energy vice-minister Nervis Villalobos obtain Spanish nationality, a case tied to alleged PP-run police operations against political opponents.
Spanish authorities are scrutinizing a possible collaboration between the PP-linked “patriotic police” and the Justice Ministry to secure Spanish nationality for former Venezuelan energy vice-minister Nervis Villalobos. Recruited in 2016 with promises of citizenship for himself and his family, Villalobos was tasked with supplying incriminating material on Podemos and Catalan separatist leaders, a request he did not fulfill.
He was subsequently detained on accusations of money-laundering and alleged bribery involving the firm Duro Felguera, but a Madrid court released him after finding the evidence insufficient. One outlet probe, led by judge Santiago Pedraz, examines whether officials in the Ministry of Justice aided Villalobos’s nationality application in 2025, as part of a broader inquiry into alleged corruption linked to former socialist activist Leire Díez. The judge has summoned senior Justice Ministry officials as witnesses to determine if political pressure was applied to influence the decision.
Why it matters
The case could reveal political misuse of law enforcement and citizenship processes in Spain.
How this story developed
- Oct 7 Former judge linked to PSOE operative allegedly threatened Biedma judge
- Oct 9 Vox has asked the court to add a homicide‑proposition charge to the lawsuit against the alleged perpetrators.
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