Spain's National Court probes alleged triangular payment scheme involving PSOE and Leire Díez

A joint investigation by the National Court, the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office and the Civil Guard's Central Operational Unit is zeroing in on a purported triangular payment mechanism employed by the PSOE to remunerate former activist Leire Díez, known as the "fontanera" of the party's alleged "cloacas". Evidence presented includes statements from several witnesses and suspects, notably former Ferraz office manager Ana María Fuentes, who indicated that lawyers contracted at the behest of Santos Cerdán were presented as providing legal advice while actually serving as paymasters for Díez.

According to the testimony, Díez agreed to perform hidden tasks intended to protect the PSOE, the prime minister and their circle from judicial actions. Recordings obtained by the media capture Fuentes describing how Cerdán, as a senior party figure, directed the amount and method of payment, leveraging his authority within the organization. The investigation aims to determine whether these payments violated anti-corruption laws and to identify the full chain of responsibility within the party.