The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) has announced the opening of an informational dossier against Leire Díez, a party member, in light of audio recordings revealing her meetings with various businessmen and lawyers.

During these discussions, she sought compromising information about Antonio Balas, the head of the Economic Crime Department at the Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Guardia Civil.

Sources from the PSOE indicate that the ethics and guarantees committee will review the case at a yet-to-be-determined date, clarifying that the opening of a dossier does not currently entail any precautionary measures.

The decision to open a dossier followed calls from prominent party figures, including regional leader Emiliano García-Page.

The PSOE's stance emphasizes that Díez, who is not considered a party facilitator, did not claim to speak on behalf of the PSOE or the government, according to the incomplete recordings that have emerged.

There has been increasing internal pressure regarding Díez's conduct and her dealings with law enforcement and business leaders.

She allegedly proposed deals with the prosecution, which she claims were efforts to gather information for a journalistic investigation into hydrocarbon issues.

The party anticipates that the dossier will later include the complete illegally recorded conversation from a lawyer's office, of which only excerpts are currently known, as well as testimonies from those involved.

The announcement of the dossier has prompted criticism from the People's Party (PP), which has labeled the action a mere charade.

Party sources have remarked that no one offers deals with the prosecution or the State Attorney's Office without having been empowered to represent the party, noting that both institutions are under the purview of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Santos Cerdán, the PSOE secretary of organization, has publicly denied that Díez acted on instructions from the party in her discussions related to the UCO.

He characterized her as merely a member with no direct ties to the central organization, stating in Congress that he does not possess the authority to oversee such actions.

He dismissed suggestions that Díez received directives from the party leadership.

Internally, there has been a growing concern among party members regarding the PSOE's response to the situation, with some calling for swifter and more assertive actions to protect the party's reputation.

In a radio interview, García-Page voiced unease about the implications of Díez's remarks, questioning the party's delay in action.

He expressed alarm over the potential fallout from the crisis, linking the lack of decisive measures to a disconnect among party leadership about the severity of the issue.

Various party members, including regional leaders and lawmakers, have indicated that the PSOE could take stronger actions against Díez under Article 8 of the PSOE statutes, which governs member conduct and allows for disciplinary actions, potentially up to expulsion, in cases of civic or ethical misconduct.

Eneko Andueza, the secretary general of the Basque PSOE, defended the UCO while condemning Díez's behavior as inappropriate.

In a press event, he emphasized respect for state institutions and expressed caution concerning the ongoing situation.

He noted his limited acquaintance with Díez and her status as a party member from Cantabria but refrained from making further comments until more information surfaces.

Following the announcement of the dossier, other PSOE representatives reiterated the party’s commitment to distancing itself from the actions in question.

Patxi López, a PSOE spokesperson in Parliament, described the reported behaviors as unacceptable, reinforcing the party's stance of non-involvement in the issue.

He indicated that the party had expressed its rejection of the matter.

The minister of Digital Transition and Public Function, also a PSOE leader, attributed the controversy to a continuous campaign against the government, asserting that such incidents do not reflect the party's integrity.

Cristina Narbona, the PSOE president, expressed profound disappointment and surprise over the nature of Díez's conversations, recalling her initial meeting with Díez in the past.

The timeline of Díez's career includes periods in local government and various roles in public communications before turning to freelance journalism.

Enrique Santiago, a leader of the United Left (IU), has broken Sumar's silence, questioning the legitimacy of Díez's actions and advising the PSOE to respond adequately to the situation.

He described the discussions revealed in the recordings as vulgar and called for respect for state institutions.

Santiago emphasized the need for measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

The minister of Culture and spokesperson for the Sumar movement, Ernest Urtasun, has refrained from providing comments regarding the situation, alongside other Sumar representatives aiming to avoid unnecessarily fueling opposition narratives.