Guardia Civil chief denies UCO plot before Senate: 'I do not control anyone through the back door'

A denial under oath

González, appearing before the Senate's Interior Committee, repeatedly used the phrase "never, ever" to reject any suggestion that she had participated in a campaign to discredit the Central Operative Unit (UCO) or had taken orders from Leire Díez. "I do not control anyone through the back door," she said, adding that she has always respected the institution. She also apologized: "I deeply regret that the Corps has been affected insofar as I am concerned. To each of them I want to express my most sincere apologies."

Admitted meetings and WhatsApp deletion

Despite earlier official denials from the Interior Ministry, González acknowledged three face-to-face meetings with Díez on 30 September 2024, 20 December 2024, and 2 April 2025, though she insisted they were personal and unrelated to Guardia Civil affairs. A UCO report revealed that she had been informed of the alleged discredit operation by at least 8 May 2025 and that the WhatsApp chat between her and Díez activated automatic message deletion three days later, on 11 May. The report also noted that the pair exchanged messages on the same morning González ordered an internal investigation into the UCO. González disclosed that on 30 May 2025 she informed the UCO's head, Teniente Coronel Antonio Balas, that she knew Díez and had met her on occasion. The following day, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska met the same command to express support.

Political escalation

The opposition People's Party (PP) sharpened its rhetoric during the hearing. Senator Luis Santamaría described the affair as an "attempted coup against institutions and the rule of law" and accused the prime minister of "treason." He questioned why González had not filed a lawsuit against Díez and asked, "Is it a coincidence that barely 12 hours after talking with Leire, you and your little Gestapo began purging your own people?" Santamaría repeated his call for González's immediate resignation.

Salary spotlight

The controversy also drew attention to González's annual gross salary of €138,240.66, a figure higher than that of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (€110,397.28) and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska (€99,757.68). The comparison emerged as part of the scrutiny over her tenure.