Spanish police raid Socialist Party HQ amid financial probe

Spanish police searched the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Party in Madrid on Wednesday as part of a judicial investigation into possible financial wrongdoing. The Civil Guard confirmed the operation, stating officers were acting under judicial orders to gather material for a National Court probe.

The search is specifically tied to an investigation led by National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz into the activities of former party member Leire Díez. The case against Díez began in 2025 after audio recordings surfaced in Spanish media allegedly showing her involvement in attempts to discredit a member of the Civil Guard's anti-corruption unit. Further reports linked her to alleged attempts to influence the work of state prosecutors. Judge Pedraz's probe is examining whether she received payments from the party to carry out these efforts. The Socialist Party has stated Díez was acting on her own. Díez, who has left the party, has denied any wrongdoing.

A court statement said Judge Pedraz ordered the seizure of various documents and electronic archives as part of an investigation into an alleged ring designed to destabilize judicial processes affecting the ruling party. The judge...