The political offensive launched in Brussels by several opposition parties against the amnesty law that the PSOE is negotiating with Junts per Catalunya to facilitate the investiture of Pedro Sánchez as president of the government has produced results this Wednesday. The pressure has taken its toll and the commissioner of justice, the Belgian liberal Didier Reyndershas sent a letter to the acting minister of the presidency, Felix Bolañosand the minister of justice, Pilar Llop, asking for “more detailed information” about the new law and in particular “about the personal, material and temporal scope” Of the same. As soon as you know the letter Bolaños has respondedalso by letter, that “in case a proposed amnesty law is registered” they will explain “all the details” of the law and the Government’s position.
The commissioner himself had admitted in his letter that “there is no formal proposal” but that “it has become a topic of considerable importance in public debate.” What’s more, “the Commission has been contacted about this matter, including by a large number of citizens,” hence the sending of a letter to the acting Government requesting information and expressing “serious concerns.” An unusual wake-up call to which the acting Government has responded quickly.
In Bolaños’ response, to which EL PERIÓDICO has had access, the acting presidential minister explains that they have learned about the letter from Brussels “through the media.” He recalls that the Government is in office, which prevents bills from being sent to parliament and that if a bill is registered in Congress, it corresponds to the parliamentary groups and not to the council of ministers presided over by Pedro Sánchez in office. “It is interested in two matters – the amnesty law and the renewal of the CGPJ – although neither of them corresponds to the scope of decision of the Government of Spain, since both will have to be processed and resolved in the Cortes Generales,” explains the minister, underlining the the Government’s willingness to “work together” with the European Commission and to inform it of “as many decisions as it wishes to know about.”
PP and PSOE offensive
In recent days both PP as Citizens have sent a battery of questions to the Community Executive asking for its “urgent” intervention to avoid what they consider “a fraudulent mutation of the constitutional order through a possible amnesty of those tried and prosecuted involved in the cases related to the process,” this warned. Tuesday the orange formation in a statement.
Twenty-four hours later the response from Brussels arrived in the form of a letter. Something unusual since the Commission does not usually rule on national bills or legislation before they are approved. “I would appreciate it if you could provide me with more detailed information, in particular about the personal, material and temporal scope of this planned law,” the head of community justice claimed this Wednesday. “The Commission will continue its task by monitoring and defending the fundamental values of the Union in all member states and will continue working with the Spanish authorities to guarantee respect for the rule of law,” he adds in a short letter.
“Europe cannot look the other way in the face of the demolition of the rule of law,” the PP spokesperson in the European Parliament said in a statement. Dolors Montserrat. Both the PP and Ciudadanos have celebrated Reynders’ performance. “Europe is already asking Sánchez for explanations for the amnesty he intends to grant to Puigdemont and many others responsible for very serious crimes. The work is bearing fruit,” highlighted the general secretary of the oranges and MEP, Adrian Vazquez.
Renewal of the CGPJ
The letter from Brussels begins with an old claim from the Community Executive: the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). Reynders reminds Bolaños and Llop that the lack of renewal of the judges’ body is a “problem” that comes from afar, that raises “serious concerns” and which Brussels has echoed on multiple occasions asking socialists and popular people to reach a solution. Even so, the Belgian liberal emphasizes that “there has been no progress” in the renewal despite the urgency and warns that “no steps have been taken” to adapt the procedure for appointing judges to take into account European standards.
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“The Commission must reiterate its call to all parties involved to implement the recommendations made in the reports on the rule of law in 2022 and 2023,” he recalls, insisting that, after the parliamentary elections held before the summer, it is necessary to “prioritize “to the situation of the CGPJ and address (this issue) without any (type) of delay.”
Bolaños also responds to this in his letter, accusing the PP of failing to comply with the Constitution and of not heeding the recommendations of Brussels. “I would appreciate it if you would address the Popular Party in order to try to ensure that this party finally complies with the Spanish Constitution,” he invites you.