PSOE and PP continue to clash over the times for the CGPJ reform but see "progress" in the Brussels mediation

Bolaños and Pons will meet again with Reynders in March

BRUSELAS, 19 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The second meeting under the mediation of Brussels between the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Courts, Félix Bolaños, and the Deputy Secretary of Institutional Action of the PP, Esteban González Pons, to try to unblock the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) ended this Monday with "progress" but without resolving the differences regarding the timing of the reform of the judicial election model that the Government wants to leave until after the urgent renewal but that the PP wants to close in a parallel process.

"We are moving very slowly, too slowly, and we believe the main problem is not resolved: We believe that the CGPJ must be renewed at the same time that we look for a new model that guarantees the independence of our courts, the division of powers and the rule of law in Spain," González Pons told the media upon leaving the European Commission headquarters, after just over an hour of meeting.

In a separate appearance, Minister Bolaños assured that "the time for excuses" and "delays" to renew the CGPJ is over because its institutional situation is "very delicate"; Therefore, he has considered it as "good news" that Reynders calls them back in March to continue "talking, negotiating and moving forward" and has considered the two months of space that Brussels has given to the negotiation as a "reasonable" period.

In a very brief statement, Commissioner Reynders described the meeting as "cordial", without giving details of what was discussed or pointing out concrete progress, and limited himself to reporting that "the debates will continue" and that the parties have agreed to meet again. be seen "in the first half of March", on a date yet to be determined.

It is worth remembering that when the Belgian liberal agreed last January to take on the task of mediator within the framework of a "structured dialogue" between the two parties, he did so by warning PP and PSOE that they should find a solution within a period of "two months." ", which means setting the end of March as a deadline, when Reynders will likely have to leave the commissioner's portfolio if his candidacy for the head of the Council of Europe, a body outside the EU, is successful.

In Pons' opinion, however, this deadline should not be seen as definitive because, in his opinion, if Reynders' departure is confirmed, the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will appoint "another commissioner" to take over the mediation.

"We have an opportunity but we have to go slowly and do it well," insisted González Pons, for whom "more meetings will be necessary" until a definitive solution is found that includes both the renewal of the CGPJ and the reform of the model.

Bolaños, for his part, has insisted on defending that the PSOE shares the position with the European Commission regarding the pace of the process because the annual reports on the rule of law point out in their recommendations to Spain that the CGPJ must be renewed "immediately." .

"It is an urgent matter for the proper functioning of the institutions in our country and, immediately afterwards, begin conversations to improve the model," said the Minister of Justice.

By accepting mediation, after the first doubts due to the unprecedented format and consulting with the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Reynders proposed a "structured dialogue" with the aim of unblocking the renewal of the governing body of judges and also address a reform of the system for appointing members to align with European standards that defend an election among peers.

In this way, the commissioner complies with the recommendations that Brussels has included for two years in its annual report on the rule of law in EU countries and that, in the case of Spain, calls for "proceeding as a priority" to the renewal of the CGPJ "and begin, immediately afterwards", the "process" for the reform.

Last December, however, in a press conference accompanied by Bolaños under the Spanish presidency of the Council, Reynders specified that although the process he prefers is an "urgent" renewal to then address the reform of the model, it was open to examine alternative solutions if agreed upon by the parties because the essential thing is to unblock the situation.