The president of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), a body dependent on the Council of Europe, Ana Andrés Ballesteros, has sent a letter to the Minister of Justice Juan Carlos Campo expressing her concern about the reform of the election system of the General Council of the Judicial Branch promoted by the Coalition Government.

In the letter, to which EL MUNDO has had access, the highest representative of GRECO warns Spain that "the proposal consists of replacing the requirement of Parliament's vote by a qualified majority of 3/5 by that of a simple majority (.. .) deviates from the Council of Europe rules regarding the composition of judicial councils and the election of their members and may constitute a violation of the Council of Europe anti-corruption rules. "

In this sense, the president of GRECO emphasizes that "the Councils of the Judiciary, in the member states where they exist, are destined to be independent bodies that seek to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and individual judges, which, in turn , is a sine qua non condition for an effective fight against corruption ".

"Our norms establish that at least half of the council members must be judges chosen by their peers from all levels of the judiciary. GRECO has repeatedly stressed that political authorities must not participate, at any stage, in the selection process of the judicial turn ", adds Ballesteros.

Furthermore, this body linked to the Council of Europe reproaches Spain for even a recommendation that was issued by GRECO almost seven years ago and which "requested an evaluation of the legislative framework that governs the General Council of the Judiciary and its effects on the real and perceived independence of this body from any undue influence, in order to correct the deficiencies detected ".

Finally, the president of GRECO advises the Government of Pedro Sánchez that "it will closely follow current developments" and requests information on the situation for the next plenary session of this body, which will take place from October 26 to 30, 2020.

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  • Justice

  • Juan Carlos Campo

  • General Council of the Judiciary

  • Spain

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