Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Spanish court gives BBVA and Francisco González more time to prepare defence
Spain’s National Court granted BBVA and Francisco González another 60 working days to prepare their defences in the Villarejo case.
The case involves BBVA, its former president and 11 other defendants, and concerns events investigated from 2004 to 2016.
The defendants are accused of ongoing bribery and disclosure of secrets, allegations they will have a chance to contest in their defence filings.
The court said the deadline will not start until all relevant information and documents are correctly uploaded to its online platform.
This is the second extension, after the court previously allowed an additional 60 working days because of the case’s complexity.
Prosecutors are seeking 173 years in prison for González and a €180 million penalty for BBVA.
The defendants are expected to file their defences early next year, while the trial could begin in 2027 or 2028.
Spain’s National Court has given BBVA, former president Francisco González and 11 other defendants another 60 working days to prepare their defence submissions.
The extension concerns the Cenyt case, the ninth part of the wider Tándem case.
The court said the new deadline will not begin until all case materials are properly uploaded to the Cloud platform.
The investigation covers alleged continuing bribery and disclosure of secrets between 2004 and 2016.
Prosecutors are seeking 173 years in prison for González and a €180 million financial penalty for BBVA.
- Who
- BBVA, former president Francisco González and 11 other defendants.
- What
- Spain’s National Court granted them another 60 working days to submit their defence filings.
- When
- The court issued its decision in a document dated 26 October; the article was published on 27 October 2026.
- Where
- Spain’s National Court. The case concerns the Cenyt part of the Tándem case.
- Why
- The extension is intended to give defendants time to prepare their defences and access the case materials.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The court first extended the period for defence submissions by 60 working days.
A court document ordered a further 60-working-day extension and said the period would not start until the case materials were properly uploaded.
The defendants are expected to submit their defence filings by this time, unless the deadline is extended again.
The trial could begin, according to the article.
- Additional time
- 60 working days
- Defendants
- BBVA, Francisco González and 11 others
- Investigation period
- 2004–2016
- Prison sentence sought
- 173 years for Francisco González
- Financial penalty sought
- €180 million for BBVA
What people are saying
complexity
no comenzará a correr hasta que se acredite que todos los acontecimientos y el resto de la documentación esté correctamente subida a la plataforma Cloud