Judicial Associations Unite for Strike Against Proposed Reforms in Spain
In a decisive move, several associations of judges and prosecutors in Spain have announced their intention to strike for three days in July, protesting reforms proposed by Minister of the Presidency Justice and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolaños. The strike is set for July 1, 2, and 3, alongside a concentration scheduled for June 28 outside the Supreme Court, to express their dissent regarding changes in access to judicial and prosecutorial careers.
The Professional Association of the Judiciary (APM), the Francisco de Vitoria Judicial Association (AJFV), the Independent Judicial Forum (FJI), the Association of Prosecutors (AF), and the Professional and Independent Association of Prosecutors (APIF) have all voiced their support for the strike. This collective action follows a successful protest on June 11, where over 70% adherence was recorded, leading to internal consultations that revealed significant backing for the proposed strike among members.
In a manifesto presented during the previous protest, representatives from the associations (excluding those that are more progressive) raised alarms about threats to judicial independence, a critical element in the foundation of a true democracy and effective integration within the European Union. They singled out proposed legislative changes affecting the judicial and prosecutorial careers, which recently passed their initial examination in the Congress of Deputies.
The reforms are seen as a direct attempt to weaken the Judiciary's role as a counterbalance to political power, making it more susceptible to political influence and media pressures. Associations argue that the proposed changes will dilute the standards required for accessing judicial roles, potentially transforming a robust system into a more lenient and ideologically driven body.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the plan to increase the powers of the Attorney General, who is appointed by the Government, thereby raising fears of political interference in the judicial process, especially in corruption cases. The associations have described recent political discourse as an ongoing attack on the Judiciary, undermining public trust in its capacity to uphold justice and serve the citizens effectively.
Despite these worries, Minister Bolaños has downplayed the associations' concerns, stating that these reforms are necessary to modernize the judicial system and that resistance to change is customary among judges. However, the solidarity shown by the associations indicates a strong opposition to the proposed reforms, hinting that a larger fight for judicial independence is underway in Spain.
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