Despite the offensive launched by the Popular Party in Brussels, the European Comission has “zero worry” for the project amnesty law that Congress processes and the health of the rule of law in Spain. This is the impression with which the Minister of the Presidency and Justice left the community capital this Thursday, Felix Bolañosafter meeting with the vice president responsible for Securities, Vera Jourováand the commissioner of justice, Didier Reynders. Two “constructive” meetings and “cordial” in which the bill that has facilitated the support of Junts and ERC for the investiture of Pedro Sanchezbut, above all, the blockade of the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) by the PP, which, on the other hand, is “utmost concern” for Brussels.
“There is zero concern from the European Commission about the health and strength of the rule of law and the separation of powers in Spain. Zero concern, zero, none. They know perfectly well the bill that was presented. They know that it is absolutely in accordance with the Constitution“, with the Spanish legal system, also with EU law and European values,” said the socialist politician who explained the law seeks to “overcome a conflict.” and normalize the political and institutional situation in Catalonia. “If we achieve this we will be taking a giant step towards normalizing coexistence. “That is why we are promoting this law,” he added.
“A pleasure to meet the minister. We discussed the amnesty law, the General Council of the Judiciary and broader aspects of democracy and the rule of law,” Vice President Jourová summarized on the social network X. “Very good meeting with the new Minister of Justice Bolaños. We have taken stock of the situation of the Judicial Council (CGPJ) and the latest developments regarding the amnesty law. The dialogue will continue with the Spanish authorities,” the Belgian liberal has limited himself to saying that on Wednesday in the press room he held the “dialogue” with the Sánchez Government and recalled that the request for information on texts in preparation is usual, but that there will be no official reaction until after the adoption of the bill in Congress.
Avalanche of letters
Both Reynders and Jourová have received in recent weeks an avalanche of letters from citizens, political parties and some associations requesting the analysis of a law that, as Bolaños has made clear, is “an internal matter” although in line with EU values. “I think that in Europe it is well understood that this law does not have the beneficiaries of 300 people who have criminal cases, but rather the beneficiaries are the entire Catalan and Spanish society,” he added, insisting that the norm they are processing is “impeccable from the point of view.” constitutional view” and “sound from a legal point of view.”
With both meetings, Bolaños tries to counteract the harsh offensive of the PP and the international campaign launched by the Popular Party to stop an amnesty that they consider unconstitutional and which had its climax last week in a harsh and tense debate in the European Parliament, forced by the Popular Party with the support of Vox and Ciudadanos, which ended without any type of resolution and with Reynders’ announcement that the analysis of the law by the Commission will only come once Congress approves the bill, which according to government sources It could occur during the first quarter of next year.
Concern about the CGPJ
What is worrying in Brussels, according to the minister, is the rrenewal of the CGPJ. “Next Monday it will be five years since the PP blocked the renewal. It is very serious behavior by the PP and absolutely unconstitutional. “The European Commission completely knows who is responsible for the fact that we are not able to renew the CGPJ,” he said, calling on the main opposition party to comply with the law.
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“The governing body of the judges must be renewed urgently and as a priority.” and “we are going to try to renew it” because “5 years of expired mandate in a governing body of the judiciary is an outrage” and “there is no excuse,” he warned. Bolaños has guaranteed that from the government “we are going to make all our efforts to achieve an agreement that allows us to return to normality.” to this body.
The minister, however, has not specified when he will contact the PP to try renew the organ and modify the election system, another of the recommendations included in the Commission’s Rule of Law report for judges to be elected by their peers. “What the Commission says is that the absolute and mandatory priority is to renew the CGPJ and then begin conversations to find out if there can be any other method to appoint the members,” he insisted, urging the new leadership of the PP to comply with the Constitution and renew a CGPJ in accordance with the law that they approved with the PP in the government and the PSOE in the opposition. “I hope that the new leadership is aware of the enormous seriousness and damage they are doing to the reputation of the judiciary and the citizens,” he said.