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Spain: Gonzalez questioned on GAL

01 May 1998

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The former Socialist prime minister, Felipe Gonzalez, appeared before the Spanish supreme court in June to answer allegations that he authorised the activities of the GAL (Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberacion) death squads. In 1996 deputy prime minister, Francisco Alvarez Cascos, implicated "Gonzalez and his circle" in orchestrating the GAL strategy, but last year the supreme court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him after the government refused to declassify CESID documents. It did, however, agree that he should be called as a witness.

The GAL, who were funded by the Spanish interior ministry, operated as an illegal undercover hit squad that targeted Basque's and suspected ETA sympathizers. They killed 28 people between 1983 and 1987, many of whom were unconnected with the ETA. While opinion polls have indicated that most Spaniards believe that Gonzalez was behind the GAL it is former interior minister, Jose Barrionuevo, and eleven former senior officials and policemen who face charges of belonging to an armed group, kidnapping and misappropriating public funds, relating to the GALs first known operation in which they kidnapped a French businessman.

Appearing as a witness, Gonzalez denied under oath that he took any "illegal action" involving the GAL mercenaries. He also rejected claims, made by two of the defendants, that they had informed him of events. Barrionuevo has also denied any involvement, but has said that he will "confess to falsehoods" rather than damage national security. This may well prove unnecessary as it is looking increasingly likely that all the charges will be dropped because the offences took place too long ago for the defendants to receive a fair trial. It is unclear whether events will disrupt Gonzalez' ambitions to succeed Jacques Santer as president of the European Commission in the year 2000.

El Pais 23 & 24.6.98; See Statewatch Vol. 5, no 1, Vol 6, no 5p

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