On Tuesday, 25 June, Spanish [political] parties PSOE (socialist) and PP (right-wing) signed an agreement to renew the General Council of the Judiciary [CGPJ] and strengthen the independence of judges after more than 5 years of deadlock (see EUROPE 13337/23).
The agreement was sealed in Brussels following a meeting with Minister Félix Bolaños, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová, and the PP’s Deputy Secretary for Institutional Action Esteban González Pons.
Both parties have agreed to proceed with renewing the body of Supreme Court judges, to present a draft organic law aimed at strengthening the independence of judges, and to nominate a new magistrate to the Constitutional Court.
The agreement also implies that ministers are expressly prohibited from being public prosecutors. As a result of these negotiations, the government will not be able to nominate the president of the Supreme Court; the new members of the CGPJ will be the ones who will choose the magistrate who will preside over the High Court.
The European Commission welcomed an agreement that “improves the situation of the judiciary in Spain” and may inspire Member States facing problems of judicial independence. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)