The PNV law to politically link the head of the CNI with the President of the Government is being debated in Congress

It also seeks to strengthen judicial control of CNI activities, after the controversy over the 'Pegasus case'

MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The PNV will take to the plenary session of Congress this Tuesday its reform of the law that regulates the National Intelligence Center (CNI) so that it is formally the president of the Government and not a minister who chooses the director of the espionage services and that they are thus linked politically. They also include measures to strengthen judicial control of the activities of espionage services.

The initiative was registered last May in connection with the controversy over the espionage of both pro-independence leaders and members of the Government with the 'Pegasus' program, an issue that cost the until then director of the CNI Paz Esteban, who she was replaced in the position by Esperanza Casteleiro, who had been acting as Secretary of State for Defense.

The first change to the law that the PNV will defend involves establishing that the proposal for the appointment of the director of the CNI does not come from a minister, but from the President of the Government himself, which would entail raising the political responsibility of the Intelligence services to the center itself. de la Moncloa for what might happen in the future.

As for the parliamentary control of the CNI, which is exercised by the Reserved Expenditures Commission of Congress, the PNV proposes that the deputies can be informed of the means used by the espionage services. Until now, not even the secrets commission can confirm that the CNI has 'Pegasus'.

In addition, the PNV proposes that the judicial control of the CNI's activities, which since the scandals of the 1990s has been entrusted to a Supreme Judge --in charge of giving prior authorization for a maximum period of three months, extendable--, be carried out carried out by three magistrates and that their decisions be adopted unanimously, taking into account that there is no second instance.

It also seeks that judges be informed of the means that the CNI will use for these activities, since it considers that they must assess the level of interference and the affectation of fundamental rights in order to apply the principle of proportionality.

Finally, the PNV proposes forcing the CNI to explain a posteriori the degree of execution of the authorized activities, a control that would allow knowing if it has been adjusted to the prior authorization and that would be very useful when deciding on possible extensions.