Attorney General Calls for Constitutional Appeal Against Supreme Court Ruling

In a significant development, Attorney General Teresa Peramato has announced that the Public Prosecutors Office will file a constitutional appeal with the Constitutional Court against the Supreme Court's conviction of her predecessor, Álvaro García Ortiz. This was articulated during an interview on TVE's 'La noche en 24 horas' on Monday. The Supreme Court had previously sentenced García Ortiz to two years of disqualification from his position and imposed a fine of 7,200 euros. Peramato revealed that the Prosecutors Office's appeal will coincide with a similar appeal from the State Attorneys Office, both aiming to contest the controversial ruling. Recently, Deputy Prosecutor María Ángeles Sánchez Conde expressed intentions to pursue a constitutional appeal, prompting Peramato to designate the Deputy Prosecutor of the Supreme Court for the task. Clarifying the position of the Prosecutors Office, Peramato stated, "This is not the first instance where the Prosecutors Office faces rulings from the Supreme Court, particularly when there are dissenting votes that challenge majority opinions." She emphasized that these circumstances do not diminish the office's commitment to its judicial responsibilities. The Attorney General reiterated that the Prosecutors Office maintained an acquittal stance throughout the proceedings, contending that the facts did not constitute a crime. Despite the conviction, Peramato asserted, "We fully respect the sentence but continue advocating for what we believe to be the correct position." The ventures to the Constitutional Court follow the anticipated rejection of nullity incidents filed by both the Prosecutors Office and the State Attorneys Office concerning the sentence against García Ortiz. The Supreme Court's chamber, which consists of seven magistrates, had dissenting opinions from justices Ana Ferrer and Susana Polo, who opposed the conviction related to disclosing reserved information in the tax fraud case of Alberto González Amador, a partner of Madrid Community President Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The High Court's decision, while expected, raises numerous questions about the implications of such a ruling on the judiciary at large, especially given its historical context. It also introduces a new dynamic regarding the balance of power and the role of the judiciary in relation to governmental accountability and transparency. The ramifications of the Supreme Court's ruling are yet to unfold, providing fertile ground for discussions about legal precedents and the future operation of the judiciary across various levels. As both the Prosecutors Office and the State Attorneys Office prepare to make their case before the Constitutional Court, the outcome could reshape the landscape of legal and judicial proceedings in Spain. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2