Spain's National Police conducted nearly 7,000 searches on Podemos party members of parliament between 2015 and 2016, according to documents sent to the National Court.

This mass surveillance, allegedly ordered by the government of former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, targeted 55 Podemos MPs, including party leaders Pablo Iglesias and Íñigo Errejón.

The operation involved over 2,700 police users across 993 locations nationwide, raising concerns about the scale and legality of the surveillance.

Judge Santiago Pedraz is now investigating these actions as part of a broader inquiry into alleged 'dirty war' tactics used by Rajoy's Popular Party against political opponents.

The case has sparked debate about the misuse of state resources for political purposes in Spain.