The European Parliament took up, on Wednesday 18 January, the issue of the Rule of law in Spain, where the government of Pedro Sanchez is accused by the Spanish right of organising impunity and attacking the Constitution.
The discussion was limited to domestic political attacks between Spanish politicians, but the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, brought a European dimension to the debate.
The controversy stems from the blocking of the Constitutional Court since 2018, with the Spanish PP (People’s Party), affiliated to the EPP, denouncing political appointments by the Spanish government. Recently, it also denounced government decisions to annul sedition crimes and reforms that have allowed the early release of sex offenders.
The Commissioner confirmed the concern about the blockage of this Constitutional Court, already pointed out in the last annual report on the Rule of law. The renewal is urgently needed and “the appointment system must be changed to bring it into line with European standards”.
He also pointed to the status of the Spanish Prosecutor General, whose mandate coincides too much with that of the governments.
But the Commissioner noted progress as well. The appointments to the Supreme Court at the end of the year are also an important step. And the new provisions on corruption crimes are currently being analysed by the Commission. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)