Yes, you spy | Gemma Ubassart


This Monday we got up with the call, urgently and on a holiday in several Autonomous Communities, of a public appearance of Elizabeth Rodriguez, government spokesman, and Felix Bolanos, presidential minister. The expectation was served. Behind the scenes, two possible topics were discussed that could justify the press conference: new information and/or actions related to the case of espionage against independentistas, or the return of the king emeritus. By mid-morning doubts were clarified: there was talk of espionage but with a pronounced twist in the script. Thus, Bolaños stated that, according to information from the National Cryptologic Center, which reports to the CNI, the phones of President Pedro Sánchez and Defense Minister Margarita Robles had been infected with the virus. Pegasussoftware. Sánchez’s phone would have suffered two intrusions in May 2021 and Robles’s only one in June of the same year. It has been a short statement, without a closed story and with inconcretions. but can open new scenarios for analysis and action. Let’s go step by step.

Illicit and external intrusions

First, the minister has spoken of “illicit and external intrusions” and of an action “unrelated to state agencies and that do not have judicial authorization.” Knowing that the Pegasus program is sold to states, the adjective “external” it can only lead us to two types of protagonists: external actors of the country, that is, foreign governments; or actors outside the government, that is, members of the CNI or police forces. Asked by the journalists present in the room, Bolaños seems to be ruling out the first option (although he has not been explicit). And the second leads us to the existence of actions by state bodies without judicial or political control.

More information about the case can also be given by the “time” in which the intrusions are carried out. In May-June 2021, the important crisis between Spain and Morocco took place, stressing the understanding between the two countries until recently: a massive influx of immigrants in Ceuta encouraged by Rabat as a reaction to the fact that it had provided medical assistance to the leader of the Polisario Front . However, the current recovery of diplomatic relations between the two states suggests that Minister Bolaños is not seeking to attack this flank. It is also pertinent to remember that in those same days the state arena was paving the way for the approval of pardons to the independence prisoners. This measure had strong opposition from the political and media right, as well as from various operators of the state’s punitive instruments.

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A logical ordering of the ingredients placed on the table in the appearance of the minister of the presidency would lead to reinforce the hypothesis that many of us defend: that there are individuals in the ‘deep state’ who have gone it alone. And that there is a part of the State that has acted against the Government. Part of the listening to Catalan independentists could perfectly be included in this framework of illiberal drift. Now, this is the hypothesis that Robles wanted to refute in the Senate and in Congress, defending tooth and nail the CNI and all its members.

Correction to Robles?

The minister has insisted that “in Spain, in a democracy like ours, all state interventions are carried out by judicial bodies and with judicial authorization”. Although this phrase could be interpreted as supporting Robles’ speech, it can also open -trying to save the, in my opinion, insurmountable head of the Minister of Defense- the way of acknowledging that things happen in the bowels of the State. On issues as delicate as the one that concerns us, greater clarity on the part of political leaders would be desirable. But personally It already helps me if this is followed by a thorough investigation and purging of responsibilities. And, above all, the implementation of measures so that there is greater judicial and political control of the actions of the intelligence services (and police if that is the case).


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