Koldo García, a former ministerial advisor, has formally requested that the Supreme Court send his case regarding alleged irregularities in mask purchases to the National Court. García's defense argues that the Supreme Court no longer has the authority to try him after former minister José Luis Ábalos resigned from his position as a member of Congress, thereby losing his legal immunity against the high court's jurisdiction. This change in status is believed to have a direct impact on the proceedings of the mask procurement investigation.

Ábalos resigned from his congressional seat on January 28, which has significant implications for the ongoing case related to the purchase of masks during the pandemic. The resignation has not influenced a separate investigation concerning allegations of commission payments associated with these transactions. García's defense is leveraging this political shift as a strategic maneuver to challenge the venue of the trial, indicating their belief that the focus should now be on the National Court instead of the Supreme Court.

This situation reflects the complexities of Spanish judicial proceedings in cases involving political figures and public health procurement during the pandemic. The move comes at a time when scrutiny over governmental decisions around pandemic responses is heightened, potentially setting a precedent for how such cases will be handled in the future. García's case may draw further attention to the accountability of public officials in pandemic-related matters, particularly regarding transparency and the management of public resources.