Podcast Summary: Hoy por Hoy | Moncloa elige quien sucederá a García Ortiz y Jordi Pujol sí será juzgado junto a su familia

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy (SER Podcast)
Host: Àngels Barceló
Date: November 25, 2025
Focus: The urgent nomination of a new Fiscal General del Estado, deep political/judicial rifts around García Ortiz's resignation, the start of the trial against Jordi Pujol and his family, the rise of far-right in Catalonia, ongoing violence against women in Spain, and other current affairs.

Main Theme

This episode navigates an exceptionally fraught morning in Spanish politics and justice: the government urgently replaces the ousted Fiscal General, Álvaro García Ortiz, after his resignation following a Supreme Court ruling, while simultaneously the high-profile corruption trial of Jordi Pujol and his family begins. Alongside, the episode delves into the implications for the justice system, the political gamesmanship over the fiscal appointment, the surge of the far-right in Catalonia, deficient systems for protecting victims of gender-based violence, and broader societal shifts. Told through brisk news updates, robust round-table analysis, and direct reactions from key figures, the tone balances urgency, skepticism, and a deep concern for the health of Spanish institutions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Resignation of the Fiscal General del Estado & Immediate Succession

• [00:10, 45:23] Álvaro García Ortiz resigns in a letter, pre-empting the Supreme Court’s final ruling against him for leaking confidential information.
  • He claims “profound respect for judicial resolutions” and to protect the institution.
• President Pedro Sánchez publicly stands by García Ortiz’s work, expressing personal respect.
  • “Hemos puesto en marcha ya el mecanismo para el nombramiento del nuevo fiscal general…” – Sánchez [00:41, 28:39]
• The government, seeking to avoid an institutional vacuum and further crisis, moves quickly to propose Teresa Peramato as successor.
• Peramato’s profile is highlighted: career prosecutor, renowned for her work in gender violence, and widely respected in the field. [58:25–61:20]
  • “Es considerada una de las grandes impulsoras de la especialización judicial en la lucha contra la violencia de Género.” – Guillermo Lerma [60:11]
• Political fault-lines:
  • Yolanda Díaz (vice president, Sumar) calls for public mobilization in defense of democracy. [01:13, 46:09]
  • Alberto Núñez Feijóo (PP) expresses deep mistrust of the government’s pick, proposes stricter, more “independent” criteria, and claims any candidate named by Sánchez will be tainted by ‘degradación sanchista’. [01:25, 13:09, 80:02]
    • “No habrá ya un fiscal general del Estado nombrado por Sánchez sin la sombra de la degradación sanchista…” – Feijóo [14:10, 29:03]
  • PP pushes for making judicial council endorsements binding and barring recent politicians from the post. [13:37, 46:20, 107:47]
• Roundtable analysis – Commentators emphasize the necessity for an “internal healing” of the Fiscalía, the symbolic/political import of Peramato’s gender violence expertise, and the toxic level of noise and mistrust in Spanish public life.
  • "Un perfil que viene de la carrera, con mucha trayectoria... puede ser un perfil que ayude un poco a recomponer, insisto, dentro de la propia Fiscalía, todas las cosas que se han roto..." – Elisa de la Nuez [97:48]
• Initial reactions from fiscal associations are positive, with hopes for restoring the institution “al buen nombre de la Fiscalía.” [117:44–118:46]

2. The Pujol Trial Begins

• [03:19, 17:53, 27:31, 81:55]
  • Trial for Jordi Pujol (95), all seven of his children, and various businessmen starts in the Audiencia Nacional.
  • Notable for the symbolic spectacle: "ayer la imagen de los siete hijos sentados en el banquillo de los acusados." [149:35]
  • Despite medical recommendations, Pujol will be present (via videoconference); his defense aims for nullification, alleging origins in political police “cloacas del Estado.”
  • The family claims some evidence was obtained through illicit, politically motivated operations (Operación Cataluña).
  • Legal experts and analysts highlight the decades-long delays, the intertwining of “la familia y la patria” in the Catalan political business class, and the ongoing legacy of clientelism.
    • "Es una paradoja que sean ellos [los hijos] los que estén allí y los demás estén lejos." – Josep Ramoneda [149:35]
    • "Toda la familia allí sentada para responder del enriquecimiento..." – Àngels Barceló [150:42]

3. The Far-Right Surges in Catalonia's Political Scene

• [19:16, 130:33]
  • CEO/CIS poll: Alianza Catalana (led by Silvia Orriols) surges, equaling Junts as third-largest party; Vox also rises and surpasses the PP in the region. If elections were held now, one-fourth of the Parlament would be ultra parties.
    • "En dos años, Alianza Catalana ha pasado de simple amenaza a convertirse en un rival duro. Sintoniza con el independentista frustrado que Puigdemont no sabe retener." – Joan Serra [131:26]
  • The far-right’s growth is credited to disillusionment with legacy separatists (“el independentista frustrado”), anti-immigration messaging, and international European trends.
    • "El racismo y rechazo del extranjero es un efecto secundario del soberanismo llevado al extremo." – Víctor Lapuente [136:25]
  • Results are geographically distinct: Vox in the urban/litoral, Alianza Catalana dominating rural Girona/Lleida.
  • Local governance (e.g., Ripoll) reveals ultraderecha's focus on symbolism over public service — closing mosques, pushing culture wars, but little in real policy. [143:53]
  • Analysts draw parallels with European rightward shifts and warn of growing “círculo vicioso” of discontent feeding the far-right.

4. Gender Violence – National Crisis, Institutional Failures

• [43:33, 120:04]
  • On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the program exposes that only 12% of Spanish municipalities are integrated into the Biogen system for monitoring and protecting abuse victims.
    • "Casi el 90% de los ayuntamientos siguen fuera del sistema Biogen..." [43:33]
  • Government and police cite lack of political will in larger cities, lack of resources in small towns.
  • Commentators decry right/ultra-right reluctance, using examples like Alpedrete (PP/VOX run, not in Biogen, where an abuse killing occurred). [121:20]
    • "La negación de la violencia machista forma parte de la agenda ideológica de la ultraderecha que en muchos casos la derecha del Partido Popular le compra..." – Àngels Barceló [122:59]
  • Broader reflections: Spain’s struggle with misogynist violence is compounded by political division, institutional inertia, and public skepticism.
    • “Combatir la violencia de género es fundamental, uno de los grandes problemas del país. Y sin embargo el apoyo institucional es minúsculo.” – Víctor Lapuente [126:01]

5. Other Major News

• Manos Limpias Case Abandons Begoña Gómez Lawsuit:
  • The ultra “pseudo-syndicate’s” lawyer withdraws, denouncing the purely political motives against the PM’s wife. [16:16]
• Telefónica ERE Announced:
  • Company announces a 37% workforce cut (5,300 jobs); unions demand voluntary early retirements. [31:00, 90:13]
• Cost of Spanish Set-Menu Lunches:
  • Menú del día now averages €14.20, under inflation despite food/electricity spikes. [63:16]
• International stories:
  • Ukraine conflict – attacks in Kyiv and Odessa as peace proposals circulate; Zelensky signals willingness to negotiate even contentious points with Trump, while Russia stays silent. [23:20, 86:04, 155:15]
  • Bolsonaro faces preventive prison in Brazil, accused of seeking to dodge justice after his electronic monitor incident. [25:14]
• Human-interest:
  • Story of Maruán Chaivi, arriving as a migrant child "en los bajos de un camión" and now honored as a police officer in Sevilla, serves as a counterpoint to xenophobic rhetoric. [54:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Fiscal General’s resignation and appointment:

  • “Me parece una carta que refleja el servidor público que hemos tenido al frente de la Fiscalía General durante todo este tiempo.” – Pedro Sánchez [00:41; 28:39]
  • “No habrá ya un fiscal general del Estado nombrado por Sánchez sin la sombra de la degradación sanchista…” – Alberto Núñez Feijóo [14:10, 29:03, 80:02]

• On political mobilization and democracy:

  • “Le pido a los españoles y a las españolas que se movilicen en defensa de la democracia, de la institucionalidad y del respeto institucional en nuestro país.” – Yolanda Díaz [01:13, 46:09]

• On the new Fiscal General, Teresa Peramato:

  • "Considerada una de las grandes impulsoras de la especialización judicial... en la lucha contra la violencia de Género." – Guillermo Lerma [60:11]
  • "Un perfil que viene de la carrera, que ayude a recomponer las cosas que se han roto..." – Elisa de la Nuez [97:48]

• On the Pujol trial's symbolism:

  • “Toda la familia allí sentada para responder del enriquecimiento…” – Àngels Barceló [150:42]
  • “Aquí se conjugan la familia y la patria, que son dos de vocación trascendental, en nombre de las cuales parece que todo está permitido.” – Josep Ramoneda [151:42]

• On gender violence and deficient institutional response:

  • “Combatir la violencia de género es fundamental, uno de los grandes problemas del país. Y sin embargo el apoyo institucional es minúsculo.” – Víctor Lapuente [126:01]
  • "La Policía local realiza tareas de protección, de vigilancia, de acompañamiento, de asesoría..." – Belén Creo, jefa de Violencia de Género en Interior [45:23]

• On the rise of the far-right in Catalonia:

  • “El racismo y rechazo del extranjero es un efecto secundario del soberanismo llevado al extremo.” – Víctor Lapuente [136:25]
  • “Alianza Catalana ha sabido capitalizar... la frustración de los que no entienden la Nueva Cataluña con 8 millones de ciudadanos gracias a la inmigración.” – Joan Serra [131:26]

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• [00:10–14:23]: García Ortiz’s resignation, political reactions and criteria for new appointment
• [45:23–61:20]: Urgent nomination and profile of Teresa Peramato
• [17:53–19:05; 27:31–82:24]: The Pujol trial, background, family’s defense strategies
• [120:04–123:41]: Detailed segment on Biogen, failures in gender violence protection
• [130:33–147:37]: CEO poll analysis, rise of far-right in Catalonia, broader context
• [149:28–154:11]: Analysis of Pujol trial meaning, legal and public ramifications
• [155:15–156:21]: Latest from the Ukraine war, peace negotiations caveats

Tone and Style

Àngels Barceló and team maintain a composed, authoritative style, but do not shy from editorial asides expressing alarm, irony, or frustration at institutional failures and escalating polarization. When quoting political figures, they preserve the original tone: Feijóo’s bitterness, Yolanda Díaz’s rallying call, and Sánchez’s grave reassurance. Analysis is brisk, skeptical, and often wry, especially when unpacking hypocrisy and institutional inertia.

In Summary

This “Hoy por Hoy” episode tracks a day where Spain’s democratic and institutional stakes are on full display: urgent attempts to shore up the justice system’s credibility, a reckoning with old political corruption, the mounting challenge of far-right extremism, and painfully slow progress protecting vulnerable citizens. The governmental and societal fault lines are laid bare, illuminated by frank debate, revealing just how high the tension—and need for renewal—has risen in Spanish public life.