Sánchez leaves open García Ortiz pardon

Oct 9

RTVE airs Sánchez saying he does not rule out pardoning former attorney general Álvaro García Ortiz before the election. The request began processing early in the year and the Supreme Court opposed it in a nonbinding June report. Bolaños says the file must be studied and neither the decision nor its timing is prejudged. The report retains the government's no-evidence defense, Bustinduy's criticism of the conviction and Tellado's allegation of payment for services and prediction of a pre-election pardon. The package ends with Abascal's plan to skip the October 12 parade and royal event and travel to Ceuta with a French far-right leader. No pardon or completed trip is announced.

On October 9, Sánchez publicly declines to rule out a pre-election pardon for Álvaro García Ortiz. RTVE recalls processing of the request since early 2026 and the Supreme Court's nonbinding June opposition. Bolaños leaves both outcome and timing open. Bustinduy criticizes the conviction; Tellado alleges repayment for services and predicts an election-timed pardon. Those assessments remain attributed; no pardon is reported granted.