Spain's National Court in San Fernando de Henares opened the Operación Kitchen trial on Monday, investigating a 2013 parapolice operation under Mariano Rajoy's government to spy on former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas and steal compromising PP documents amid the Gürtel case. Ten ex-officials, including former Interior Minister Jorge Fernández Díaz, face up to 15-year sentences from Anticorruption Prosecutors. Defenses challenge jurisdiction and evidence, while current PP leaders distance the party and PSOE seeks to impute María Dolores de Cospedal and the PP.
The trial targets an alleged plot to access Bárcenas's documents held by investigating judge Pablo Ruz. Defendants include former Secretary of State Francisco Martínez and ex-Deputy Police Director Eugenio Pino. Witnesses expected include Rajoy, Cospedal, and Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría.
Defenses, including those of Fernández Díaz and Martínez, seek to annul key evidence like José Manuel Villarejo's recordings and transfer the case to ordinary Madrid courts, arguing no jurisdiction over what they call Villarejo's 'private commissions.' Villarejo, attending as counsel, stated: “I face the trial with great enthusiasm, I trust the truth will prevail.”
Anticorruption Prosecutors seek 15-year sentences for the main accused. The court anticipates conclusion by late June. Bárcenas submitted documents detailing a 2013 'full naked search' in prison and other alleged abuses, finding no contraband.
As popular prosecutor, PSOE's Gloria Pascual requested suspending the trial to investigate the 'political connection' with Cospedal, her imputation, and PP civil liability, citing new Villarejo audios showing Cospedal accessing PP slush fund police reports before Ruz. Prior requests by judge Antonio Piña and prosecutors were rejected.
PP deputy secretary Juan Bravo avoided judging Rajoy and Cospedal's innocence, urging court respect, and emphasized 'the PP of 2026 is not Kitchen,' with Feijóo's leadership uninvolved. Madrid president Isabel Díaz Ayuso said the current PP 'has nothing to do with' events '13 years ago,' contrasting with her own Mascarillas case.
