Spain's attorney general quits after leaking classified data

Spain's Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz announced his resignation on Monday. He decided to step down following last week's Supreme Court verdict convicting him of leaking classified data related to "the life partner of a well-known opposition figure."

García Ortiz justified his departure on the grounds of "deep respect for the court's decision" that bars him from serving as prosecutor for two years.

However, he stressed that he retains the right to appeal to the Spanish Constitutional Court and then to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The verdict represents a weakening of the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who appointed the prosecutor to the post in 2022. The government has criticised the decision, highlighting the lack of consensus among the judges.

(reuters, sie)