Conde-Pumpido points to the ECHR as the "greatest interpretative influence" on the Spanish Constitution

He highlights that Spain is one of the countries that receives the fewest convictions: "And it should continue to be that way"

MADRID, 5 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido, has pointed out this Thursday to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as the "greatest interpretative influence" on the Spanish Constitution, also highlighting that Spain is one of the countries that has had the fewest convictions. received, to which he added that "this is how it should continue to be".

This is how Conde-Pumpido expressed himself in the framework of the keynote address given at the TC by the president of the ECtHR, Síofra O'Leary, emphasizing the "excellent friendly relations" between both courts, "which are based on the cooperation and in judicial dialogue", something that he has attributed to "Spain's firm commitment" to the rule of law and international human rights regulations.

For this reason, the head of the court of guarantees has pointed out, "it is not surprising that the European Convention on Human Rights is the text that has exerted the greatest interpretative influence on the Constitution."

Consequently, Conde-Pumpido has referred to Spain as "one of the great defenders of the rights contained in the Rome Convention, thanks to the dialogue between our courts."

In line, he highlighted that "Spain is one of the countries that receives the fewest convictions", to add that "it should continue to be that way", although he has recognized that "achieving such positive results for the guarantees of Human Rights is not an easy task".

In this sense, he explained that "the TC has always considered that when a ruling from the ECtHR comes to correct" the interpretation made by the Constitutional Court, its magistrates do not understand it "as a condemnation but as a path that marks us", as "the path we must follow."

However, Conde-Pumpido has stressed that "the solid doctrine that exists in our country of fundamental rights has drawn and continues to draw from the ECHR", highlighting that it has contributed to its "Europeanization and internationalization".

Regarding the latter, he has defended that "the TC cannot escape the process of internalization in which we live" and that is why "we must get involved to the maximum of our possibilities, especially in the European and Ibero-American forums, jurisdictional bodies and institutions, with whom we share the duty to defend and promote the rule of law, human rights and democracy".