The agreement between the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) and the People’s Party (PP) to renew the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) is closer than ever. The negotiations are being mediated by Vera Jourová, the Vice President of the European Commission. The main negotiators, Félix Bolaños for the socialists and Esteban González Pons for the PP, have scheduled a meeting in Brussels with Jourová to finalize the agreement. The pact is almost closed, although no one is fully trusting until it is officially announced, given past precedents. This agreement would end the five and a half-year blockade that has affected the CGPJ, and the ultimatum issued by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez last week would be lifted.
If an agreement is reached, the proposal to reform the law to ensure a more objective appointment of judges at the Supreme Court would be dropped. This means that the PP would still have influence in the appointments, but not with the control they have had over the past 10 years. One-third of the Supreme Court judges have not been renewed, and with this breakthrough, a completely different CGPJ would begin the renewal process, shifting away from the conservative dominance of the past decade. The current CGPJ, whose mandate expired in 2018, reflects the majority that the PP had in the 2013 Congress.
The outcome of this agreement also impacts other negotiations between the Government and the PP for various important bodies, from the Bank of Spain to the National Commission of Markets and Competition or the RTVE board. The PP is also awaiting the appointment of a member to the Constitutional Court, which would provide the conservatives with a majority of 7 to 5, as outlined in the Constitution. The negotiations have been in progress for years, with an agreement being close to finalization in October 2022 before being derailed by political concerns.
The positions of both parties have remained consistent, with the PP aiming to renew the CGPJ while changing the appointment system to ensure the independence of the judiciary. The PP spokesperson emphasized the importance of reaching a beneficial agreement for Spain and criticized the PSOE for issuing ultimatums. Both parties have confirmed a meeting between their negotiators with Vera Jourová, indicating that an agreement is imminent. The goal of the meeting is to advance the renewal of the CGPJ and improve judicial independence in Spain, as stated in a joint communication.
The fact that the Minister of Presidency cleared his schedule to focus on negotiations, and the cancellation of trips by key negotiators, indicate the seriousness of the talks. Both parties are working towards a resolution before the deadline set by Pedro Sánchez. The potential agreement would have wide-reaching implications for the judiciary in Spain, ending a long-standing deadlock and paving the way for a more balanced and independent system. The final announcement of the agreement is eagerly awaited, as it could mark a significant turning point in the Spanish judicial landscape.
