De Miguel is the case in which 26 people are charged, most of them linked to the Alavés PNV, in the largest case of alleged fraud ever tried in the Basque Country. So far they have testified to witnesses and experts, but after the summer break it was the turn of the accused and there was much expectation of what they were going to say, because during the trial numerous contradictions have arisen and there have been strong evidence and accusations, including those of the lead witness, Ainhoa Alberdi.

The defendants’ lawyers, many of them of great prestige and experience in the Jeltzale training, have tried to cast doubt on the work of witnesses and experts, but they do not seem to have achieved anything similar and are now seeking an agreement with Prosecutor Josu Izaguirre to lower his sentence in return for the recognition of guilt.

The prosecutor has been very demanding in the trial and from the very beginning has made a very strong request: For De Miguel, a prison of 54 years and for the rest, between 32 and 4 years. They are charged with a crime of money laundering, the collection of illegal fees and fraud in the conduct of urban operations.

The trial has lasted a long time. Initially, the declaration phase was expected to end in October, but following the interventions of 150 witnesses and 20 experts, it is now expected that it will not end until at least the end of November. Then comes the stage of the court’s deliberations, and the verdict in spring, on the eve of municipal and foreign elections. Those involved in the case are no longer on the brink of the PNV, but it could turn out to be too heavy a backpack to campaign.