Cristina Narbona, president of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), told a judge in the Audiencia Nacional that there are “worrying signs” regarding the party’s involvement in a case involving alleged maneuvers by Leire Díez. While Narbona acknowledged these concerns behind closed doors, she publicly denied any personal knowledge of a plot to destabilize judicial proceedings surrounding Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Narbona’s Testimony Before Judge Santiago Pedraz
Cristina Narbona appeared as a witness before Judge Santiago Pedraz for a session lasting less than 30 minutes. According to reports from the outlet ARA, Narbona admitted during the private portion of her testimony that the case contains “indicis preocupants” (worrying signs) concerning the PSOE. This admission contrasts with her public statements following the hearing.
When questioned by journalists after leaving the court, Narbona distanced herself entirely from the alleged actions of Leire Díez. She stated she had “no knowledge whatsoever” of the suspected plot currently under investigation by the Audiencia Nacional. The investigation centers on whether Díez instigated maneuvers to interfere with judicial cases linked to the environment of Pedro Sánchez.
Clarifying the “Important Facts”
Prior to her appearance, Narbona had indicated to the court that she was aware of “facts that could be important.” However, she clarified this point to the press after her deposition, arguing that her understanding of “facts” did not relate to the specific plot being investigated. “By facts, I understood facts, of course, having nothing to do with what is being investigated,” Narbona told reporters.
The case involves a series of communications, including WhatsApp messages exchanged between Narbona and Díez. These messages occurred on the same day Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez began a five-day period of reflection regarding his leadership and political future.
The Role of Leire Díez and the Audiencia Nacional Probe
The Audiencia Nacional is examining the role of Leire Díez, a former socialist militant, in an alleged effort to destabilize legal proceedings.
Timeline of Key Events
The sequence of events currently under judicial scrutiny includes:
- The Reflection Period: Pedro Sánchez enters a five-day period of reflection on his role.
- The Communications: Cristina Narbona and Leire Díez exchange WhatsApp messages during this specific window.
- The Allegations: Claims emerge that Díez attempted to destabilize judicial cases surrounding the Prime Minister.
- The Testimony: Narbona testifies before Judge Santiago Pedraz, acknowledging “worrying signs” privately while denying knowledge of a plot publicly.
The court will now evaluate Narbona’s testimony alongside the digital evidence from the WhatsApp exchanges to determine if further charges or summons are necessary.
The next scheduled action in the case involves the continued review of evidence by the Audiencia Nacional to determine if the “worrying signs” mentioned by Narbona warrant a formal expansion of the investigation into other party members.
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