The defence of judicial independence at the centre of political debate
In a context where the independence of the Judiciary is under public scrutiny, the Popular Party (PP) has decided to bring a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) to the Assembly of Madrid that seeks to demand absolute respect from the central Government towards this fundamental pillar of democracy. The initiative, announced by the PP spokesperson, Carlos Díaz-Pache, focuses on the need to provide judges and prosecutors with the necessary resources to carry out their work without interference.
Díaz-Pache emphasised that it is imperative that attacks and targeting of those who simply fulfil their duty cease. “Without judicial independence, there is no democracy,” he stated during his speech. This message resonates especially at a time when criticism of the judicial system is becoming increasingly frequent.
The PNL presented by the PP not only advocates for greater protection for judges but also proposes a series of concrete measures. Among them, the urgent need to fill 142 vacant positions and create more than 350 additional new posts for judges and magistrates in the next five years, as requested by the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid, stands out.
In recent years, the selection processes for officials have been marked by an insufficient rate to cover the vacancies generated by retirements. Therefore, this PNL urges the elimination of this rate and proposes to offer 800 positions annually for three consecutive years. Additionally, it seeks to drastically reduce temporary employment in the public sector within the judicial sphere.
As these proposals are discussed, criticism arises towards the central Government for unilaterally determining how many positions should be offered at the national level without considering the specific needs of each autonomous community. This situation has led the PP to request that allocations respect the local demands raised by the autonomous administrations.
The Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Local Administration has also echoed the popular demand, urging Minister Félix Bolaños to take concrete measures to improve the current situation. With over 1,500 pending interim appointments in Madrid, he emphasised that it is crucial to create permanent structural positions to avoid continuous reliance on temporary staff.
As this political discussion progresses, accusations arise regarding how the Ministry is more focused on issues related to corruption cases within the Socialist Party than on genuinely strengthening the judicial system. This perception could have significant repercussions on how justice is perceived in Spain and its ability to operate independently.
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