European Parliament to investigate hacking of PM Pedro Sánchez's phone

The European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware today approved a fact-finding mission to Spain to take place on 20 and 21 March in Madrid.

The EPP Group supports the mission in order to clarify, demand and receive information of who was behind the hacking of the mobile phone of the Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and other members of his government.

EPP Group Coordinator in this committee, Juan Ignacio Zoido, stated: “PM Pedro Sánchez must dispel once and for all the doubts that may have been generated around the case of spying on members of the Spanish Government and clarify his actions in the aftermath.”

"We, in the EPP Group, have no doubts about the excellent work of our security forces and our intelligence services. We are very proud of them and we know that they carry out their work in an exemplary manner, with scrupulous respect for the rule of law and with extensive judicial supervision.”

“However, the role of Sánchez in the management of the Pegasus espionage case has been very deficient. On one hand, because of the way he treated public servants, such as the former Director of the National Intelligence Centre, Paz Esteban, who was fired and turned into a scapegoat to please his government partners, the Catalan secessionists.”

“On the other hand, Sánchez has not collaborated with the European Parliament since the Chair of this Committee sent a questionnaire to the Spanish Government months ago, which has been completely ignored. On 29 November, the current Director of the National Intelligence Centre, Esperanza Casteleiro, appeared in front of this committee and refused to answer any of the questions asked by the MEPs.”