The dismissal of the director of the CNI, Paz Esteban, coincides in time with public knowledge of the espionage of pro-independence leaders, among them Pere Aragonès, president of Catalonia, and the breach in State security that made possible the espionage of cell phones of Pedro Sánchez and the ministers Margarita Robles and Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

But from the Government, the official explanation for her dismissal is used for reasons of giving a "boost" to the CNI and avoids presenting it as a transfer to independence.

A "modernization effort"

The decision, which the Government defends having taken "today", of Esteban's departure, has been explained after the

Council of Ministers

by the Defense Minister, who was opposed to this action.

What is more, in her explanations she has made a firm defense of the fact that she is already the former head of the intelligence services and of her workers.

"All the actions carried out by the CNI are always in accordance with the law and with judicial authorization," Robles explained.

"Spain is a state of

law

and legality. That exists in Spain and in the work of public servants."

A week ago, in an appearance in Congress, he endorsed the actions of the head of the secret services.

Only a few days later, the Council of Ministers dismissed it.

What happened?

Robles answers without clarifying doubts: "Nothing has happened. I feel very proud of all public officials. I reaffirm myself in the work done by the 3,000 men and women who are part of the intelligence services, among whom is its former director ".

The official explanation, given by Robles, is that "mistakes" have been made and that the purpose is "to try to prevent those errors from happening again."

The "substitution", because Robles speaks of "substitution" and not dismissal, is presented as a "step forward", the beginning of a "new stage".

"It is time to give a boost in times as complicated as the ones we are experiencing, not only because of the war in Ukraine, but also because of cyberattacks."

Government sources questioned about the "errors" that have been made by the

CNI

refer to the fact that this has to be ruled by the Justice, since the Government has filed a complaint for espionage to the members of the Council of Ministers.

However, Esteban's departure occurs when the courts have not even taken place.

"You already know what the reasons are," other government sources respond, in a clear allusion to the pressure of the independentistas and formations such as ERC, a governance partner of La Moncloa, who demanded to purge responsibilities.

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