featured News

Spain’s chief prosecutor, Alvaro Garcia Ortiz, has resigned after the Supreme Court ruled last week that he was guilty of leaking confidential information relating to a tax fraud case involving the partner of Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a regional leader from the opposition Popular Party. The verdict marks a major setback for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s leftist coalition government, which appointed Garcia Ortiz in 2022 and has consistently defended him.

In a resignation letter addressed to Justice Minister Felix Bolaños and seen by Reuters, Garcia Ortiz said he was stepping down out of “profound respect” for the judicial system, even before the court’s sentence banning him from serving for two years formally takes effect. He insisted he had served his role with loyalty, a commitment to public service, and dedication to institutional integrity.

The government expressed disappointment over the ruling, with spokesperson Pilar Alegria stating that while they respect the decision, they disagree with it, citing concerns over the lack of consensus among judges and the unusual issuance of a verdict before full reasoning was published. Garcia Ortiz is expected to appeal to Spain’s Constitutional Court and may eventually take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

News Trending

A young boy in Spain managed to survive a deadly flood by climbing a tree and holding on throughout the night. His family’s car had been swept away into a river, and tragically, his father remains missing. The 10-year-old is now receiving treatment for hypothermia, as reported by Spanish media.

The devastating floods, caused by record rainfall, have resulted in at least three fatalities and the disappearance of three others in central Spain, according to police. Regions southwest of Madrid were particularly hard-hit, with bridges destroyed and roads transformed into muddy rivers.

The boy’s family was attempting to escape the floodwaters in a rural part of the affected area when their car was swept into the river, explained Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the head of the Madrid region. The young boy spent the entire night clinging to a tree for survival.

While the boy’s mother and sister have been located, rescue efforts are still underway to find his missing father near Aldea de Fresno, one of the three individuals swept away by the heavy rainfall, according to the civil guard police force.

Additionally, three deaths have been confirmed in the Toledo region, situated southwest of Madrid, due to the storm, as stated by the civil guard.

The Spanish weather service, Aemet, recorded record-breaking rainfall of 9cm (3.5in) in the region on Sunday.

Efforts to clean up the aftermath of the floods are ongoing, with residents working to remove mud and debris left in their wake. Regional administrations in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha have requested that the federal government declare the affected areas as “catastrophe zones,” which would provide government funding for repairing damaged buildings.

In a first-time move, emergency text messages and loud alarms were used to warn residents about the storm on Sunday, and authorities credit people adhering to advice to stay at home and leave their vehicles behind for helping rescue services manage the thousands of calls they received.

This disaster in Spain follows an intense summer heatwave, with climate scientists warning that global warming leads to more water evaporation during the summer, resulting in more severe storms.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright