Spain’s chief prosecutor Alvaro Garcia Ortiz announced his resignation on Monday after the Supreme Court ruled that he unlawfully shared confidential information in a case involving the partner of a senior opposition figure. His decision lands a fresh setback on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who appointed him in 2022 and has consistently defended him.
Garcia Ortiz said he stepped aside out of respect for the judiciary, even though the sentence that bars him from holding office for two years has not yet taken effect. The court is still preparing its full written justification for the ruling, which was issued last week.
In a letter sent to Justice Minister Felix Bolaños and viewed by Reuters, Garcia Ortiz said the ruling left him with no choice. He insisted he had served the office with commitment and integrity.
“I am convinced that I have faithfully served the institution to which I am honoured to belong, with a vocation for public service, a sense of duty and institutional loyalty,” he wrote.
He added that his resignation was an act of “profound respect” for judicial decisions.
Although he has quit, he still has the option of appealing the verdict before the Constitutional Court and later the European Court of Human Rights.
Government spokesperson Pilar Alegria said officials respected the court’s decision but disagreed with it. Speaking to state broadcaster TVE, she said the ruling had raised concerns in the government and among the public.
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She pointed to the lack of unanimity on the bench and the unusual timing of releasing a verdict before issuing its full reasoning. These elements, she said, had created “stupefaction” within Spain.
The case has drawn exceptional attention because it marks the first time in Spain’s democratic history that a sitting attorney general has been convicted while in office.
Garcia Ortiz was a central figure in Sanchez’s judicial agenda, and his departure is expected to intensify political tension between the governing coalition and the opposition. The case emerged amid a broader debate over judicial independence, a topic that has dominated Spain’s political discourse for months.
The government has not yet named a replacement. Analysts expect the coming weeks to bring a heated debate in parliament as parties position themselves ahead of the next appointment.