The new Minister of Justice, Félix Bolaños, made it clear yesterday during the portfolio transfer ceremony that the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) will be one of his priorities. The head of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes stressed that “renewing the General Council of the Judiciary is not an option, it is an obligation” of all “public servants” who have promised to abide by the Constitution.
Bolaños was supported at the event that took place at the Parcent Palace by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares; of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas; the Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Perez; and by the Director of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government, Óscar López, one of the heavyweights of La Moncloa.
The director general of the National Police also attended, Francisco Pardo and the leader of the PSOE of Madrid, Juan Lobato.
However, in the face of this political support, the absences of prominent members of the Judiciary were notable. The president of the General Council of the Judiciary attended the event, Vicente Guilartethe acting state attorney general, Alvaro Garcia Ortiz and the president of the National Court, Jose Ramon Navarro. She is also the president of the General Council of Spanish Lawyers, Victoria Ortega; of the General Council of Attorneys, Juan Carlos Estevezas well as the president of the Madrid Bar Association, Eugenio Ribon.
However, the absence of judges from the Supreme Court, members of the CGPJ, was striking – with the exception of the counselor Nuria Diaz Abad-, Chamber prosecutors or magistrates of the Constitutional Court, who were either not invited or declined the invitation to the event.
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