Government defends justice stance
Spanish Government defends justice criticism regarding PSOE cases as 'freedom of expression'.
The Spanish government is defending its repeated attacks on the judiciary as a simple exercise of "freedom of expression." Sources from Moncloa told La Opinión de Málaga they do not believe in "coincidences" — a pointed reference to what they call suspicious timing in judicial actions that target the Socialist Party (PSOE) and those closest to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The tension comes after a string of legal cases hit Sánchez's inner circle. A Madrid court is probing his wife, Begoña Gómez, for alleged influence peddling. A separate court in Badajoz opened an investigation into his brother, David Sánchez, for alleged embezzlement. The government's response has been to go on offense — attacking the judges publicly while insisting it is simply speaking freely.
Sánchez Frames the Judiciary as a Political Enemy
On June 4, 2024, Sánchez published a public letter accusing Judge Juan Carlos Peinado of trying to influence election results. Peinado had summoned Begoña Gómez to testify just five days before European Parliament elections. Moncloa cited that five-day window as "statistical evidence" of political intent, according to El Correo Gallego.
This was not the first letter. Back on April 24, Sánchez had paused his public duties for five days, saying he needed to reflect on whether to resign. He later announced he would stay — and declared the legal cases a "coordinated attack" by right-wing media and judicial actors, reported Diario Córdoba.
Government Points to Leaked Documents and "Strange Coincidences"
Moncloa is not just defending itself. It is pointing fingers. Government sources have highlighted what they describe as "leaks" of judicial summaries to opposition-friendly media outlets. They argue this proves a "coordinated strategy" designed to hurt the PSOE politically, according to El Periódico Mediterráneo.
Spokesperson Pilar Alegría has used the Moncloa press room to flag these "strange coincidences" in judicial notifications during election cycles. The government insists it respects judicial independence but says, in their words, "respect is not silence," as noted by La Opinión de Zamora.
Judges and Legal Experts Push Back Hard
The response from the legal world has been sharp — and it cuts across political lines. The conservative judicial association APM called the government's rhetoric "subversive." Even the progressive group Juezas y Jueces para la Democracia, normally closer to PSOE, warned about "discrediting the judicial function," according to El Periódico de Extremadura.
Criminal law professor Manuel Cancio Meliá drew a clear line. He said ministers do have freedom of expression, but their "duty of institutional restraint" is higher than that of ordinary citizens because of the power they hold over the state. The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) — Spain's judicial watchdog — has also called for an end to "attacks" on judges, reported La Opinión de A Coruña.
A High-Stakes Gamble With Institutional and EU Consequences
The CGPJ has now gone over 1,600 days operating with an expired mandate. The PP and PSOE have failed to agree on a renewal. This prolonged deadlock makes the body weaker — and makes the government's attacks on it easier to land politically, according to El Correo Gallego.
The stakes go beyond Spain. The European Commission has already raised "serious concerns" about the rule of law in Spain. A recent Metroscopia poll found 48% of Spaniards believe the judiciary is "politicized," while 42% think the government is attacking judicial independence. Political analyst Ignacio Varela says Sánchez is "campaigning against the Toga" — turning legal cases into political battles to fire up his base and shift attention away from the corruption allegations themselves.
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