Sánchez assures that in Spain there is 'lawfare' because institutions have been instrumentalized, as in 'Kitchen'

He says that the investigative commissions "do not bind sentences" but the Prosecutor's Office can take them into account

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has assured that in Spain there have been cases of 'lawfare' or instrumentalization of justice and has given as an example the use of the police by the PP in the 'Kitchen' case.

In an interview on TVE, reported by Europa Press, he pointed out that "definitely" public institutions have been exploited to persecute political adversaries and hide evidence in judicial cases "that affected the Popular Party." "That's Operation Kitchen," she said.

In this way, he has defended that the PSOE agreed to include the term 'lawfare', which refers to the judicial war against political adversaries, in the agreement signed with Junts in exchange for the votes for his investiture.

Furthermore, regarding the investigative commissions in Congress, agreed upon in that same agreement, he has stressed that "they do not bind judicial rulings" but they can be the subject of a report to the Prosecutor's Office "so that they can be taken into consideration."

In that sense, he recalled the "linen" case that came from a parliamentary commission and the conclusions were requested by the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to investigate that matter. "That's what we're talking about," he concluded.

The commissions agreed with the independentists will investigate, one on the aforementioned Kitchen case, which affects the administration of Mariano Rajoy and the second on the use of the 'Pegasus' spy software against independentists, during Sánchez's period in La Moncloa.

The President of the Government has defended himself against criticism from the opposition and also from practically the entire Judiciary, who warned that admitting that lawfare practices have occurred goes against the separation of powers.

In this sense, Sánchez has rejected acting against the independence of the Judiciary by ensuring that he has never questioned a sentence even if he was against it or had doubts about it, while the PP, in his opinion, has done so by saying that the Gürtel case was not about the PP but "against the PP."

CGPJ AND AGREEMENTS WITH THE PP

Regarding the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), which has had an expired mandate for six years, he has insisted that he is not going to alter the majorities necessary to undertake the replacement and therefore he is going to "reach out" to the PP. to update the governing body of judges.

In this sense, he has emphasized that he will not alter the majorities because he does comply with the Constitution, and those who accuse him of violating it are those who do not respect it.

In his opinion, the current interim situation is affecting citizens because the quality of the judicial system is being diminished as a consequence of the "absurd, intolerable and unconstitutional blockade by the Popular Party."

Regarding the possibility of reaching agreements with the PP and whether he is going to call the opposition leader in the next few hours, he has insisted that he wants to reach agreements with him, although he has ruled out a conversation in the next few hours because he must go to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai this Thursday.

CRITICIZE THE GESTURE AGAINST ARMENGOL AND TELLADO

Sánchez says that he will try to have "the best and greatest dialogue with the opposition" although he believes that first the PP must reflect on its strategy. In this he has criticized the PP's decision not to applaud the president of Congress, Francina Armengol, and the appointment of Miguel Tellado as the new parliamentary spokesperson, recalling that he said that the president of the Government should leave Spain hidden in a trunk.

"If we leave the hyperbole behind and the PP accepts the electoral result, it could be a fruitful legislature in terms of understanding between the two great political forces of our country," he indicated.

He considers that the PP, by not applauding Armengol, is calling into question the legitimacy of the parliamentary majority that supports the Government in the Congress of Deputies. PP and Vox explained that they did not applaud because they consider that it was a partisan speech and far from what is expected of a president of Congress, but for Sánchez it is "a declaration of intentions" because, as he stressed, "in democracy forms matter." .

Regarding Tellado's appointment, he says that it shows that the insult has won over respect, although he has assured that the socialists will put aside the insult and the anger and will work for the general interest, with respect and even "with a sense of humor." .