Pedro Sanchezin an operation of sleight of hand and pure Bonapartism, has risen above all and has used the bullet that he kept in the chamber from the moment he sent the Minister of the Presidency, Felix Bolanosto denounce that his telephone number and that of the Minister of Defense, Margaret Oakshad been spied on, too!, after learning that the cell phones of 63 pro-independence leaders and activists were ‘hacked’ with the system pegasus.
The subsequent confirmation that, furthermore, among the 18 pro-independence supporters spied on by the National Intelligence Center (CNI) with the authorization of the magistrate of the Supreme Court paul luke was included to Pere Aragoneswhen he was ‘vice president’ and ‘conseller’ of Economy, as reported Peace Stephenthe director dismissed this Tuesday, to the Official Secrets Commission last Thursday, it facilitated the carom.
triple carom
The President of the Government has killed three birds with the shot to the head of Esteban.
In the first place, it has given the independentistas, and especially the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), his trophy.
Secondly, with the dismissal he has sent a notice to navigators within the CNI about the existence of limits.
And, ‘last but not least’, he has named “one of ours & rdquor ;, hope casteleiroat the head of the intelligence agency, among other things, to guarantee the validity of Red lines from now on, and as a message to Podemos that they forget to knock down Margaret Oaks.
The Minister of Defense has had the project of appointing Casteleiro, with a long history of action as a spy abroad, director of the CNI, for some time.
strained relationships
Relations between Robles and General Felix Sanz Roldanappointed by the government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, they were not good. In July 2019, when he won his second term, it could be the occasion. But no. Because the Government was in office and could not propose the appointment of a new director. Peace Stephennumber two of the CNI as general secretary, assumed the direction on an interim basis.
Robles counted from the moment he assumed the Ministry of Defense, in June 2018, with Casteleiro as head of his cabinet. And in January 2020, the Minister of Defense and President Sánchez decided that it was more convenient to confirm Peace Stephen as director.
But, at the same time, Casteleiro’s career took a leap, going from Robles’ chief of staff to Secretary of State for Defense, the minister’s number two, in July 2020.
It was evident that the road from Casteleiro to the CNI address it was expedited. It was just a matter of time and opportunity.
“A Person of Action”
“It can be said that, for the first time in its history, the PSOE has a trustworthy director of the CNI who comes from La Casa and who, moreover, is a person of action. It is also relevant that he has taken his first steps in politics and government action & rdquor ;, explains to EL PERIÓDICO a source close to the Government of Pedro Sanchez.
Casteleiro was already number two in the CNI, in his capacity as Secretary General between 2004 and 2008, when the Minister of Defense Pepe Bonus appointed as director Alberto Saizwho left amid great tensions within the agency, a situation that gave rise to General Sanz Roldan.
“Is a flesh and blood spy& rdquor ;, says another source consulted. “He has worked a lot abroad and also on terrorism issues in the CITCO (Center for Intelligence and Against Organized Terrorism) & rdquor ;, he adds.
Precisely, his face transcended the media on January 15, 2021 when he had to testify at the request of the former commissioner’s defense Jose Manuel Villarejo in the libel and slander trial instigated by the State Attorney on behalf of General Sanz Roldán. The former commissioner accused the CNI of having leaked a photograph of him from an alleged anti-terrorist operation in Melilla.
Casteleiro stated that he was unaware of the alleged mission and that he had not dispatched with Sanz Roldan on the matter.
three way work
The dismissal of Peace Stephen it has been an operation that has required a three-way division of labor in the Government.
On the one hand, the information Citizen Labthe University of Toronto think tank on cell phone tapping 63 pro-independence leaders and activists shook the stability of the Government at the time when the anti-crisis plan was to be voted on to stop the effects of the war in Ukraine.
Next, the Minister of the Presidency, Felix Bolanosand Minister Robles appeared in conflict in relation to the responsibility for the tapping of the telephones of President Sánchez and that of the minister herself, according to the report of the National Cryptologic Center (CCN), dependent on the CNI.
However, the closing of ranks between Bolaños and Robles, last Friday, May 6, predicted a redirection of the problems with a damage control policy at the expense of the director of the CNI, Peace Stephen.
Oaks, fortified
“It was unthinkable that Sánchez would do without the Minister of Defense precisely during the Ukraine crisis&rdquor ;, said the source close to the Government.
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Paz Esteban has fallen without anyone offering a substantive explanation. “It is that in 1995 punctures were illegal. And not only the director fell Emilio Alonso Manglanobut the defense minister resigned, Julian Garcia Vargasand the vice president Narcis Serra. Here you have to imagine why she has been set aside Peace Stephen and, furthermore, those who seemed touched by the scandal, as was the case with Margaret OaksThey come out with greater power & rdquor ;, says the source.
It’s Sanchez’s sleight of hand, stupid!